I have a feeling St. Patrick wasn’t concerned with having a day set aside to honor himself. His focus was on Christ. I can imagine his finger would be pointing not at himself but at the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
“Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.”
~ St. Patrick
“The next day John saw Jesus
coming toward him and said,
‘Look, the Lamb of God,
who takes away the sin of the world!'”
John 1:29“There is no greater love
than to lay down one’s life
for one’s friends.”
John 15:13 NLT
Jesus died such an excruciating death
Physically, emotionally, and spiritually
No one has suffered as much as He did
Why did He do it?
Because He loves us so much!
Because of this love
There is no sin too awful
That can ever condemn us
No pain or grief too deep
That can ever consume us
No darkness too thick
That can ever blot out
The light of His love
He knows
He cares
He loves
He will get us through anything!
“Just as there were many who were appalled at Him —
His appearance was so disfigured beyond
that of any human being and
His form marred beyond human likeness–“
Isaiah 52:14“He was despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and pain and acquainted with grief;
And like One from whom men hide their faces
He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or esteem Him.
But [in fact] He has borne our griefs,
And He has carried our sorrows and pains;
Yet we [ignorantly] assumed that He was stricken,
Struck down by God and degraded and humiliated [by Him].”
Isaiah 53:3-4 AMP“About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud [agonized] voice,
‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is,
‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?'”
Matthew 27:46 AMP
“Hero” by Abandon
Jesus, our hearts just can’t fathom the depths of Your suffering for us, so free and so willing. You were imprisoned so we may go free. You died so we will never be condemned. You lived so we may live forever. Help us to find hope, healing, and freedom in this. Help us to remember that our suffering here on this earth can never compare to Yours for us. Help us to understand our suffering here deepens Your life within us and molds us more into Your image. Thank You, Jesus, for such deep, passionate love. Please help us to love one another as You have loved us. In Your precious Name, Amen!
Linking up with:
Holley – Coffee For Your Heart
Jennifer – Tell His Story
Kelly – Cheerleaders of Faith
Barbie – Weekend Whispers
Freed to Fly 
I really like that quote from St. Patrick. My kids have been playing silly “leprechaun” games all week…this will be wonderful to share with them about the heart behind the holiday! Happy to be visiting from purposeful faith.com:) Have a great day!
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Welcome Meg. I’m so glad you came for a visit. 🙂 Those leprechauns are pretty cute, but yes, there is “the heart” behind the holiday. May we place our focus on Christ Jesus! Hugs!
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I love being reminded of these beautiful poems by St. Patrick. And, yes, I agree that he would have pointed the focus back on Jesus! Instead of corned beef and soda bread, the day would mean so much more to all of us if we could see our days the way he did, and look for Jesus in all of our moments. Thank you for these precious thoughts of what our Lord has gone through on our behalf. Blessings to you!
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You’re welcome, Bettie. Isn’t it just so incomprehensible what Jesus has gone through for us? I love St. Patrick’s poems, too. Reading history about him, his life focus was on Jesus and spreading the Word about Him. Yum, I like corned beef and soda bread, but yes it would be much more meaningful if we would “look for Jesus in all of our moments.” May we look for Jesus in all our moments and spread the word about His love! Hugs!
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Thank you for sharing these words and the video. The Saviour of the world has scars on His hands. And it’s our scars that He uses , isn’t it? I once heard He changes our scars into stars that shine bright for all to see.
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You’re welcome, Lynn. And thank you for sharing what you once heard. You have lifted my heart today. “He changes our scars into stars that shine bright for all to see.” I love that! Yes, He uses our scars. Thank you for reminding me. I so easily forget… May our Savior use our pain for His purpose and to His glory! Hugs!
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This is beautiful. It is so important to keep our focus on Jesus in everything and to remember all that he has done for us. I love the song you posted too. Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you, Carly. I’m so glad it was meaningful to you. May we keep our eyes on Jesus and remember His sacrifice of love for us! Hugs!
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Hi Trudy! I am familiar with that prayer of St. Patrick. Is it called St. Patrick’s Breastplate?
I know you’re right when you say that St. Patrick wasn’t in it for the attention, he did want it all on Jesus.
Your closing prayer is so beautiful, and I know it’s so heartfelt too. May we all find hope, healing and freedom in the Lord!
Have a peaceful night,
Ceil
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Thank you, Ceil. Yes, may we all find hope, healing, and freedom in the Lord! I have never heard of St. Patrick’s Breastplate, so I looked it up. Apparently this is the short version of it. I wasn’t familiar with the entire prayer, so thank you. 🙂 It is quite a long prayer. I especially like the part where he says he arises today with the strength of Christ’s birth, crucifixion, and resurrection. May we rest in that hope! Hugs!
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St Patrick’s poems are a wonderful legacy he has left us. They place Jesus at the centre of life and faith. It was good to be reminded of them. Your prayer is beautiful and heartfelt. I join you in it. And the video song is powerful, especially with the crucifixion imagery. Trudy, one of the things I love about spending time here is the way you put the focus on Jesus and His great love for us. May you be enfolded in it more and more as you reflect on its enormity for us all. Blessings and hugs! Xx ❤
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Thank you for your kind words and prayers, Joy. I’m so glad you love spending time here. I do desire that the focus is on Jesus and His great love for us. Thanks for joining me in the prayer. May Jesus fill us so full of His love that it will naturally spill out to others around us! blessings and hugs to you, too!
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Hi Trudy,
I know this might surprise you but I am not a fan of the color green (especially in clothing since it makes my skin look positively putrid:)) so I’ve never gotten into the wearing of the green or celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, but what a delight to read his words that you included here! I think I’ll remember now that his words turned us to God instead of the lucky green shamrock! xo
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Hi Valerie. Yes, I think St. Patrick’s Day is being celebrated today far from the beliefs of St. Patrick. I love the poems he left us and that he taught people about the Trinity through the visible example of the shamrock. One leaf but three distinctive whole parts. 3 in 1 God. 🙂 May the grace of Christ our Savior and the Father’s boundless love with the Holy Spirit’s favor rest upon us from above! Hugs!
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Yes, yes! Christ in everything, over everything, around everything. Soothing us, healing us, protecting us, convicting us by the power of His Spirit.
Thank you, Trudy …
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I’m so glad you found encouragement in Christ here, Linda. Amen to all you say here! I love your words! May Christ Jesus be our All in All! Hugs!
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Trudy, love that song. Thanks for including it in your encouraging words here. xo
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I’m so glad the song blessed you and the words encouraged you, Lyli. That song is so moving, isn’t it? May the wonder of what Jesus did for us sink deep within our hearts! Hugs!
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That’s one of my favorite quotes, Trudy! St Patrick’s day is commercialized just like every other holiday. It’s up to us to keep the focus in the right place! Blessings, my friend!
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I love it, too, June. Yes, it’s sad how much commercialization there is in holidays. As you say, it’s up to us to keep the focus in the right place! May we keep our hearts focused on Jesus! Hugs!
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Trudi- Thanks so much for those quotes from St patrick I love them and haven’t heard them before- I especially like the first one! 🙂 Thank you too for the verses so good to think on. I have had trouble getting my heart ready for easter. I really appreciate your thoughtful post!
with much love and hugs
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Thank you, Susie. I’m so glad your heart was blessed. I love St. Patrick’s quotes. It’s so incomprehensible that Jesus would suffer so much for us, isn’t it? Sometimes I just can’t seem to wrap my mind around it. I’m so glad we have such a BIG, loving God! May He pilot us, instruct us, protect us, and direct us! Much love and hugs to you, too!
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Dear Trudy, it’s so incomprehendable that God loved us all that much. Giving up his son up as a sacrifice so that we could one day be with Him in heaven. Pure awesomeness! 😉
I enjoyed your poem by St. Patrick so much, I re-wrote it to put up in our “war room”. I had been looking for a song I heard awhile back that sounded similar but this is just perfect! 🙂
(((HUGS)))) to you friend! ♡
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Thank you, Krista. I’m so glad you found some food for your soul. Yes! “Pure awesomeness!” that God gave up His Son for us. Maybe I have read about it before, but what is your “war room?” St. Patrick’s poem surely would be a great addition to any room. 🙂 May Christ Jesus be our All and Everything! Hugs to you, too, friend!
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