Dishonoring the Memory of Saint Patrick

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As Saint Patrick is celebrated over this coming weekend I’m sure Saint Patrick himself would be utterly horrified at the current idea of a celebration of his life.

As I was growing up in Belfast Northern Ireland I only remember March 17th. being celebrated by wearing a bunch of shamrock on our lapels and going to church to thank God for Saint Patrick’s life.

I hope as you have followed my facebook blogs this past week you know a lot more about the real life of Saint Patrick and his dedication to follow the Great Commission and realize that it had nothing to do with green beer, drunkenness or even cornbeef and cabbage, which incidentally I have never even heard of until coming to live in the USA. I pray you will honor his life by remembering Ireland in your prayers, the country that Patrick loved so much.

An Interesting Link Between Two Great Evangelists


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 Saint Patrick was an evangelical preacher and is often said to be a man of One Book! He never appeals to the authority of any creed, ecclesiastical leader or council, but in his writings, few as they are, he quotes from 113 scriptures. It has been commented that from his constant emphasis on the Bible, that Patrick sounded like a 5th century Billy Graham, “ The Bible says, the Bible says.”

It is interesting to note here that Billy Graham is of Scotch Irish descent and his ancestors came from County Down and County Antrim in Northern Ireland where Patrick built his first church.

The Providence of God

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After six years of captivity as a slave in Ireland Patrick escapes and returns to his family in Scotland. But something wonderful had happened to Patrick because of his conversion to Christ – he did not hate the Irish, but instead he had a love for them.

He had seen the Druids in Ireland controlling the people, encouraging them to worship sacred trees, stones and even the sun itself. The Lord spoke to Patrick in a dream in which he heard, “ The voice of the Irish…We beg you, Holy boy, come and walk among us again.” He began to prepare for ministry to return to Ireland even though his family tried to persuade him not to.

In His providence God provided a way of escape for Patrick. He is also faithful to provide a way for you.

1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Spiritual Tests

Taking a spiritual test today? Your Great Teacher is in the classroom with you and watching over you in a silent presence. Just as He was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in their fiery furnace when Nebuchadnezzar declared “Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God” Daniel 3:22

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1 Peter 1:6-8 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory

Hearing God’s Voice part 2