♥ - ~ST. PATRICK'S DAY LEGENDS AND TRUTHS~ - ♥

"Bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ."

......Galatians 6: 2

  Saint Patrick's day is celebrated by many on March 17th.   Patrick was called the Patron

Saint of Ireland.   There are many legends about this man which are also entwined with truths.

  St. Patrick is well known for having driven the snakes out of Ireland.   A legend says he

 stood on a high hill and used his staff to drive them into the sea.  Although it is true there are

 no snakes in Ireland, there probably have never been since the time of the separation of

the island from the rest of the Continent. Patrick put an end to the pagan practices and won

many converts to Christianity. This is where the legend of "driving out snakes" probably

 has its origin. It is true he abolished the pagan rights there. 

 

Patrick was born in Wales and kidnapped at the early age of sixteen.  He was sold in Ireland

 as a slave. It is said he was an ordained deacon, priest, and later a Bishop in Ireland.  It is

 also said that St. Patrick used a shamrock to teach the doctrine of the Holy Trinity to converts

 in Ireland.  He baptized many converts.  Patrick was successful in converting almost the entire

 population of the island.   He was also successful in building schools, churches and monasteries.

  He lived with threats to his life.  His spiritual autobiography called "Confessio" has survived

 as some other writings.  St. Patrick died in A.D. 493.  Legends and truths

 about his life continue on until this very day.

Although we don't celebrate this day in the manner many do, we see many

"blessings of green" within God's holy Word and think upon these. The first

mention of the word "green" in Scripture is in Genesis 1: 30. God told Adam that

He had given him every green herb for meat or nourishment, and it was so. 

 God saw that this was good. Every being with the breath of life was given the 

blessing of the green herbs to sustain and keep them.   The earth was decorated by

 God with beautiful hues of green. 

The Psalmist David tells us in Psalms 23 how the Lord blessed him with the fruitfulness

of green pastures. The word "pasture" refers to a pleasant, suitable, and beautiful

place in Hebrew meaning.   God not only made him rest in the lush clover of the watered,

 green pastures, but also led him beside the still waters.  This speaks to us of rest and peace

while being led by the Lord. This chapter is one of comfort and tranquillity with Jesus as

the Good Shepherd and the true Bishop of our souls. David was fed and led by God

 in paths of righteousness.  Goodness and mercy followed him all the days of his life.

 

The prophet Isaiah in Chapter 53 gives a prophesy of the coming Messiah.  Isaiah tells

 us Jesus would grow up before God as a "tender plant," and as a "root out of a dry ground."

 He also tells us they would not behold his beauty, as he would be despised and rejected of

men at His first coming to earth.  They would not esteem him as Lord and Saviour. 

 

What does the description 'as a tender plant' mean to us?  Tender plant in Hebrew commentaries

 is the word (yonake), and is a twig of a tree, as sprouting, a sapling, green, as a  young

and tender plant.  It also relates to the word "herb" which means to be green as any

tender shoot or grass.   As the natural green herb was given as nourishment and food,

  Jesus is the tender plant  or vine which who the "bread of life" given for his children.

He keeps and sustains us.  He is the 'True Vine' and we are the branches.

Believers are referred to as the "offspring" of God and new creatures in  Christ. 

 Many references of blessings were spoken about offspring being as  the grass of the earth,

 "springing up," and being fruitful, as a 'green' tree.  To blossom and bud were Bible terms,

meaning to be fruitful and productive.

Psalms 1: 1-3 tells us we are blessed if we do not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, stand

in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of the scornful.  If we delight in the Lord and meditate

 on his law, we can be like a tree planted by rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his

season.  This Scriptures also says "his leaf shall not wither and whatsoever  he doeth shall

 prosper".  This is a blessing for the righteous from our Lord.  Righteous people are referred

 to as "trees" which are green and fruitful.  They are blessed with fruit and watered by the Lord. 

 They are as a "green olive tree" in the house of the Lord. 

 

There are many Christian songs which refer to Christians going home to live in "green pastures."

  We can have the blessings of the Lord and spiritual "green pastures"  by being obedient

to His Word and loving him with our whole heart.  Believers have been given the "blessings

 of the Vine" from God's Word by his Holy Spirit. 

 

 It is more than luck or chance when we are blessed and prosperous.   All good things 

come from God who is the giver of life and  all good gifts.   Do you desire to be as a

  fruitful green tree?   Seek God and find life.  He will keep you and you will be

a  true "planting" of the Lord. 

Blessings In Christ,

Jo Ann Kelly ©  2012, 2005.

J. P.'s Inspirations

IRISH BLESSINGS

May your neighbor respect you,

Trouble neglect you,

The angels protect you,

And Heaven accept you.

(unknown)

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back
 May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And, until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

(Unknown)