Week of Change

Do you ever feel like, try as you might to change, you just keep waking up the same every day? I think we’ve all been there, but today’s message is especially for those who consider themselves followers of God. I was speaking with a dear friend earlier today and we got onto this very subject. Those of us who call ourselves Christians, and who endeavor to devote our lives to that creed, often find those very lives falling short of our lofty professed ideals. I go to church, read the bible, pray, give, perform good deeds … the whole shebang. Yet, somehow, I never quite seem to become the better person I’ve been aiming at. This is all the more shocking when I consider the holiness and worthiness of my Creator, the depth of His compassion and the magnitude of eternity. In light of such compelling and life changing revelations, how is it that someone like me continues exhibit such a stalwart resistance to behavioral modification? All I know is that we must muddle through as best we can and take each day, each challenge, one step at a time. The Christian walk is not one of instant perfection, but of prayerful process. Even if you share these same frustrations, let me encourage you to keep taking that one step at a time as we walk together down the path of faith.

An additional thought upon my heart just now is that this is St Patrick’s Day. Now I’m not Irish, but if you are, or if you are interested, St Patrick is considered the patron saint of Ireland, meaning that he was essentially a missionary of the Christian faith to the land. For your enlightenment, I have pasted the whole story of St Patrick and the origins of this holiday at the bottom of today’s posting. My question today is this: If you are a believer, what are you the patron saint of? How are you changing your little corner of the world? I think we’re called to be the St Patrick of wherever we are. You can be the patron saint of your family, your school, your work, your neighborhood, an athletic team, a car pool, whatever. It’s unlikely you’ll get your own holiday here on earth, but in the gospel of Luke (chapter 14) he records that, “I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” That sounds like enough of a holiday to me. Wear green clothes and drink green beer if you must, but let this day always remind you that you might very well be the patron saint of your own sphere of influence. That is a lofty calling indeed. My hope and prayer for you today is that you’ll be able to look back at your life next week and see in yourself something new and different.

Week of Change
Oh, God, it’s been another week
And I’m here in church again
Letting seven more days slip by
Without proclaiming You to men
Nor have I moved forward
I’m the same I was last week
Having squandered Your grace again
Unfaithfully foolish and weak
Lord, I beg for Your mercy
For the hundredth, the thousandth time
I beg You, make my life count
And end this faithless pantomime
Help me take Your commands to heart
May I follow You, Jesus, at last
And become the man You want of me
Before another week can pass
By Frank Carpenter ©

Origins of St Patrick’s Day
Just like many other holidays in the United States, St Patrick's Day has its origins in ancient times. A young boy named Patrick lived in the British Isles, a land that had been invaded and conquered first by the Romans and then by Germanic tribes. Patrick was captured and taken as a slave from the British Isles to what is now Ireland. He lived there for several years herding sheep. He was a religious boy and he prayed that he would someday return to his homeland. Legend has it that one night while he was praying, a voice told him to escape from the farm, and find a ship that was waiting for him two hundred miles away. Patrick got to the ship, sailed to Europe, and disembarked in what is now probably France. He led several of the ship's crew through a dangerous forest, praying all the time. Neither Patrick nor any member of his crew was captured. When some of the men were about to die of starvation, wild animals appeared for them to eat. Events such as these appeared to be miracles and gave rise to later legends surrounding Patrick. At home, Patrick felt that he was called by God to perform an important mission. He believed it was his duty to go back to Ireland and convert the Celtic people to the Christian religion. Patrick arrived in Ireland and became a missionary, traveling from village to village and talking about his faith. Once, several members of a tribe approached Patrick and told him that they found it difficult to understand and believe in the Holy Trinity. Patrick thought a moment, then stooped down and picked one of the plentiful shamrocks growing wild around Ireland. "Here are three leaves," he said, "yet it is one plant. Imagine the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit as each of these leaves. Here they are, yet they are one plant." The tribesmen understood, because Patrick had used a familiar object to explain. From that time on, the shamrock has been a revered symbol of Ireland. Stories of Saint Patrick, for by then he was a saint, reached far and wide. His most famous feat is forcing the snakes out of the entire country of Ireland. Even though there are many different stories about how he accomplished such a task, it is probably not true. St Patrick died on March 17 and the Irish people set aside the day to mourn. He became the patron saint of Ireland. Mourning turned to commemorating him and celebrating his life. Americans have inherited this custom. On St Patrick's Day in the United States, millions of people celebrate whether they are Irish or not!
From: http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blstpatricksday2.htm