Month: March 2014

It’s St Patrick’s Day, which means all sort of Green Irishy stuff and little guys with red beards running around looking for gold under rainbows.  Oh and pinching people who are not wearing green who of course claim to have on ‘green underwear’.  What is this day even about?

I really have no idea, I was thinking this was the guy that played the flute and led the rats out of London but turns out that’s the Pied Piper.    Later on today I will probably spend a little time researching ol’ Paddy and discovering a little more about this guy – more than just this little poem;

Oh! St. Patrick was a gentleman
Who came of decent people;
He built a church in Dublin town,
And on it put a steeple.
~Henry Bennett

Anyway, enjoy the day, learn more about the old Saint, as I am certain that his mission minded life (I learned something) holds encouragement and examples for us today.

12 We are surrounded by a great cloud of people whose lives tell us what faith means. So let us run the race that is before us and never give up. We should remove from our lives anything that would get in the way and the sin that so easily holds us back.  Hebrews 12:1  (NCV)

Today is National Earmuffs Day.

I’ll let that set in.

Go figure! I would have to say that I could use a pair of earmuffs right now, even as I write this!

But anyway that got me to thinking about coverings and something the modern church doesn’t talk about near as much as the church of my youth, the blood of Christ. But it’s important every once in a while to remember the fountain that washes us of our guilty stains. It’s not a fountain of youth or a fountain of purity, but a pure fountain of the blood of the Son of God.

knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. (1 Peter 1:18, 19 NASB)

And because of the cleansing fountain our vile sin is gone and redeeming love can be our theme. Let’s get up, throw on your earmuffs if you need them and realize we are walking around clean because of that fountain. Trust it and do what needs to be done.

Hebrews 9:14 ESV

How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

It’s one of those weeks where my mind gets in a place where it needs some encouragement. It could be the time change and the weariness of the week? For you it could be another reason. Either way, it’s time like these when I usually head over to Philippians, the coffee mug book. I like to call it that because it has so many one-liners that people place on mugs and posters and all sorts of inspirational items. So today take a look at this classic and draw some encouragement to keep moving forward.

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents-which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, (Philippians 1:27-29 NASB)

I am not aGreek scholar, and I am not sure how this was originally written, but I love that this starts with “only conduct”. It seems to highlight the one thing-the only thing- that matters for us. And that is to live in a way worthy of the gospel.

Stand Firm.

Even though yesterday was Awesome, I am still looking for that hour that disappeared on Sunday morning. I guess I will find it in October.

Anyway, if you happen to get a hankering for an apple today it might be because today is Johnny Appleseed Day.  In the meantime,  follow Mr Appleseed approach to product dispersion and share what you have been given today.

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.  Hebrews 13:16 ESV