Is St. Patrick's Day all about dressing in green, drinking, and having parades? It appears this was once a Christian related holiday not a drinking party day.
Based on the background, to Christians, we should think of this more as a day to reflect on the mission field and those who spread the Gospel.
Here are some excerpts from an article at History.com (and similar sources) that I found:
St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is one of Christianity's most widely known figures. At the age of sixteen, Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his family's estate. After more than six years as a prisoner, Patrick escaped.
Soon after, Patrick began religious training, a course of study that lasted more than fifteen years. After his ordination as a priest, he was sent to Ireland with a dual mission-to minister to Christians already living in Ireland and to begin to convert the Irish.
http://www.history.com/content/stpatricksday/who-was-st.-patrick
Was this a day to party at the bars? Not really:
The focus on the party is a relatively new phenomenon. Up until the 1970s, Irish laws mandated that pubs be closed on March 17.
But in the mid 1990s the Irish government decided the holiday would be a good way to promote the country to the world, building the date into an event that last year attracted almost 1 million people to Dublin.
http://www.watoday.com.au/entertainment/celebrating-st-patricks-day-20090316-8zjn.html
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A good use of this day for God would be to pray for Christian missionaries today. Perhaps for your church, those you know, yourself, and/or just in general.
If you would like a list of some recent missionary prayer requests from around the world, I have attached a 6 page list from Spring 2009 to this post.
And don't forget, we are all missionaries in our current places and positions. It is not necessary to travel to a remote location in the world to be a missionary. Your mission field could be your family, coworkers, friends, and acquaintances. And the message you preach is spoken both in words and in deeds.
Lord, I pray for the Christian missionaries in the field and in everyday life, that you would watch over them. Guide and protect them. Help their ministry to prosper according to your will. Let them be used by you to find those open to the Gospel. See all these requests and give them your attention. Let those who made their requests receive a special feel of your presence and touch on their lives today. In Jesus Name, Amen.
____________________________________________
Based on the background, to Christians, we should think of this more as a day to reflect on the mission field and those who spread the Gospel.
Here are some excerpts from an article at History.com (and similar sources) that I found:
St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is one of Christianity's most widely known figures. At the age of sixteen, Patrick was taken prisoner by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his family's estate. After more than six years as a prisoner, Patrick escaped.
Soon after, Patrick began religious training, a course of study that lasted more than fifteen years. After his ordination as a priest, he was sent to Ireland with a dual mission-to minister to Christians already living in Ireland and to begin to convert the Irish.
http://www.history.com/content/stpatricksday/who-was-st.-patrick
Was this a day to party at the bars? Not really:
The focus on the party is a relatively new phenomenon. Up until the 1970s, Irish laws mandated that pubs be closed on March 17.
But in the mid 1990s the Irish government decided the holiday would be a good way to promote the country to the world, building the date into an event that last year attracted almost 1 million people to Dublin.
http://www.watoday.com.au/entertainment/celebrating-st-patricks-day-20090316-8zjn.html
____________________________________________
A good use of this day for God would be to pray for Christian missionaries today. Perhaps for your church, those you know, yourself, and/or just in general.
If you would like a list of some recent missionary prayer requests from around the world, I have attached a 6 page list from Spring 2009 to this post.
And don't forget, we are all missionaries in our current places and positions. It is not necessary to travel to a remote location in the world to be a missionary. Your mission field could be your family, coworkers, friends, and acquaintances. And the message you preach is spoken both in words and in deeds.
Lord, I pray for the Christian missionaries in the field and in everyday life, that you would watch over them. Guide and protect them. Help their ministry to prosper according to your will. Let them be used by you to find those open to the Gospel. See all these requests and give them your attention. Let those who made their requests receive a special feel of your presence and touch on their lives today. In Jesus Name, Amen.
____________________________________________
