A Prayer for March
As we go into a new day,
We thank Thee for all
Thy mercies, and we beseech
Thee that this day
Thy strength would pilot us,
Thy power preserve us,
Thy wisdom instruct us,
Thy eye watch over us,
Thy ear hear us,
Thy Word give us sweet talk,
Thy hand defend us, and
Thy always guide us.
A View from the NestRandom Ramblings from the Resident Raptor
Insight from the Journey across the Sky
25 You are the descendants of the prophets and the heirs of the promise that God made to our ancestors when he said to Abraham, ‘Through your descendant all people on earth will be blessed.’ Acts 3:25 (GW)
9 So people who believe are blessed together with Abraham, the man of faith. Gal 3:9 (GW)
Although I am half Irish I have to admit I am not what you would consider lucky. I do not recall ever winning a game of chance and do not even think about betting on a race or playing the lottery. If there is some sort of magic to luck then I am certainly no magician. Perhaps luck is a state of mind. If you think you are lucky does that help make you lucky? Do thoughts of winning games of chance improve your odds of actually winning? Can you ’Think and Grow Rich’ like the book title would indicate? Is there something magical about the Emerald Isle that translates into the Irish being lucky?
Perhaps, because I am not a full bloodied Irishman, my luck has yet to manifest. Perhaps I am only half lucky because I am only half Irish. I guess I should blame my mother for not marrying an Irish gentleman. Yeah that’s it blame it on genes. You would think it should be my heritage to be lucky like the Irish, considering I am part Irish. But alas the only thing Irish about me would seem to be my gift of gab, which I gather one gets from kissing the "Blarney Stone" which I really do not recall ever having done. Oh well, I am still partly Irish and that must count for something.
To be an Irishman one has to be born of Irish ancestry. To inherit Irish genes you must have Irish blood running through your family tree. Just by donning green apparel on St Patrick’s day does not make you Irish anymore than wearing a cross around your neck makes you a Christian. You have to be born Irish, and you must be born again to be a true heavenly citizen.
There are advantages to being a natural born citizen. I am a natural citizen of the United States but not a natural born citizen of Ireland. Although I have Irish blood running through my family tree I did not inherit the rights and privileges of a naturally born Irish citizen. I could not therefore go to Ireland and be treated like a citizen. I would have to apply for citizenship to the Emerald Isle in order to be eligible for the benefits afforded citizens. It is the same with my heavenly citizenship. I had to make an appeal, I had to follow the citizenship rules in order to be adopted into my heavenly family. Now since I have been adopted I can claim benefits afforded family.
My citizenship papers have been signed by the King of King and Lord of Lords. He has written my name in the membership list of all those who applied for citizenship into Heaven. I now belong to two worlds, this one and the one to come. DUAL citizenship! WOW I am a citizen of two worlds. I have two homelands, my current one and the one I will be traveling to one day.
Just like I am part Irish and part German, I can also say I am part sinner and part saint. I have sinners blood running through my veins but also the blood of Christ and the saints of old as well. I am both mortal and immortal because I have the promise of eternal life with my citizenship papers from Heaven. While here on earth I am only mortal. Not lucky perhaps. Not too bright perhaps. Not wealthy perhaps. But blessed none the less, because my new home is awaiting my arrival. It is a place where there is no need for luck, nor any need for wealth. I do not have to chase after the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow because the one who placed the rainbow in the sky has promised me a home on golden streets. Now that is some POT OF GOLD wouldn’t you say?
I may not be considered lucky like some would call lucky, but I can truly say my life has been blessed since leaving behind my natural birthright and trading it for a new heavenly birthright.
So this St Patrick’s day I shall wear green for my Irish ancestry but I shall also wear the scars and stripes of my Lord and Savior who died for me so that I could become a citizen of the new earth. I may not be a lucky Irishman but I am surely a blessed man thanks to Jesus Christ.
But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness. Isaiah 40:31 (BBE)
Along for the journey
Insight for your “Journey across the Sky” A View from the Nest www.eagleviews.org
You observe days and months and seasons and years! Gal 4:10 (ESV)
This year Saint Patrick’s day falls on the Monday of Holy week, the week leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus. It is ironic, in a sense, that this year the day that was set aside to honor the death of one man, Saint Patrick, sets off a week that ends in the death of one man, Jesus. The week starts on a celebration and ends on one as well. Granted the latter being more significant then the former but none-the-less two celebrations indeed bookend this week.
To the Christians, Resurrection Sunday is the grandest of all celebrations for it was on this day that Jesus arose from the dead, to release all those who where held captive by sin. To a true Irishman, Saint Patrick’s day is a day to celebrate being freed from paganism. The one celebrates a death while the other celebrates a life. Saint Patrick, although credited with Christianizing Ireland over his 30 year ministry, can not compare to Jesus who brought Christianity to the whole world during his 3 and a half year ministry.
Posthumously both received acclaim as being men of God, but only Jesus can rightfully claim the title King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Similarities and contrasts exist for both celebrations. On the one hand we have a nation, Ireland, celebrating the liberation from moral depravity through the influence of the Catholic church and it’s missionary Patrick. On the other hand we see the celebration of life from death, experienced in the life of a born again believer through the influence of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Both were persecuted by those who hated them. For Saint Patrick it was the imprisonment at the hands of Irish Marauders, and later hatred by Celtic Druids, who resented his effective work at converting their followers to Christianity. Jesus too was sought after by the Scribes and Pharisees of his day who plotted to arrest him.
Continue reading “A Message for Saint Patrick’s Day”
"...that where I am you may be also." Jn.14:3
Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. (Matthew 6:33)
Daily Bible verse plus a picture of God's creation following Wayne Cordeiro's "The Divine Mentor" format.
"Come and hear, all you who fear God. Let me tell you what he has done for me." - Psalm 66:16
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