Lessons learned the first 50 years

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I hit a milestone. I turned 50 years old. I am thankful that I don't feel 50.   I am thankful for things God has taught me throughout those 50 years. .  I have learned that God loves mercy and when I feel a sense that justice needs to happen over mercy, all I need to do is remember that I am thankful for when God gives me mercy instead of a just punishment.   (Micah 6:8 8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.) ( Luke 6: 36  Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. ) I have learned that hurt people end up hurting people.   When I am able to see that I didn't hurt them but I am bearing the results of that persons hurt inflicted by other people, it helps me forgive whatever hurt they pushed onto me and move on.  (Romans 12 : 18  If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. )  I have learned that anyone who thinks they have God
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Who is St. Patrick, really?

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Who is St. Patrick anyway? Well, it is said that St. Patrick was born Maewyn Succat in Scotland around 387 AD.   All was fine and normal for Patrick until he was kidnapped by pirates and sold as a slave to work in Ireland. Before being kidnapped, he was probably more concerned about which job to take and which girl to marry when his world was suddenly changed. It is believed that he was about the age of sixteen when he was kidnapped to be a slave, working as a shepherd.  Ireland at that time has a pagan religion which worshipped nature and even had human sacrifice.  During his years in slavery, he remembered the sermons of his grandfather who was a priest.  Maewyn recalled the sermons of his youth and he turned to Jesus.. He remembered the gospel, the good news- Christ has paid the penalty for our sins and we have this FREE gift through Him. We must only believe, repent, and follow Christ. So, having turned to Christ, it is said that Maewyn spent the next six years of his life in Ireland in bondage.  Then, he prayed. I imagine his prayers were like this, “Lord, I know you. Please have mercy. Release me. I want to make a difference for you. I can’t in slavery. Lord, please save me from this situation. So, after six years of praying, God gave him a dream that told him how to escape.  Maewyn hiked over 200miles to the coast, and found a ship that eventually returned him to his boarded a ship, and eventually returned home to Scotland. After telling his family and friends what happened to him and demonstrating that he was a changed man, young 22-year-old Maewyn decided to become a priest. For another fifteen years or so, he preached to his own people. Then, around the age of 40, Maewyn was called by God to go back to Ireland. He had a vision in which he heard the Irish people crying out, “We beg you, holy youth, that you shall come and shall walk again among us.”  “Please, please tell us about Christ.”
After studying for the priesthood, being ordained a bishop, Maewyn’s name was changed to Patrick. Then he headed back to Ireland, the nation where he was a slave was now his home as a missionary.  Although there were already some Christians living in Ireland, St. Patrick was able to bring upon a massive religious shift to Christianity by converting people of influence. St. Patrick was credited to converting the nobles, so other people followed their conversion. St. Patrick helped form monasteries and churches throughout Ireland. St. Patrick’s story was passed down from memory, and became a story told over and over.   St. Patrick was there for over 30 years. The very people that enslaved him, St. Patrick sought to set free!

Psalm 118:5 In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free. (NIV)


John 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (NIV)

John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (NIV)

2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (NIV)

Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (NIV)

Ephesians 3:12 In him [Christ] and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (NIV)

One of the hardest things St. Patrick had trouble explaining was THE TRINITY.  He used the shamrock to explain how God is three in one.   God is the one true God, but He shows himself in three ways. Christ, the Holy Spirit, God –the Father. The people could see the shamrock had three pieces but was one WHOLE.
Therefore, the shamrock is associated with St. Patrick’s Day. St. Patrick never was an official saint through the Catholic Church, but it is told he was credited with certain miracles: raising the dead, healing the sick, and chasing all the snakes out of Ireland. To this day, there are no snakes in Ireland.

So, how do we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in America? Some places hold St. Patrick’s Day parades. Some areas color their rivers green. Some color their beer green. Most wear green. It is a tradition that if you are caught NOT wearing green, everyone gets to pinch you. It is supposed to teach you a lesson: not to forget St. Patrick again…. instead celebrate!

Go put on your Green!



Rachel    

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