Our Year in Ireland

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Galway City St Patrick's Day Parade

Mayor Declan McDonnell with Scottish man holding the replica of William Wallace's sword.

This group is Discovery Church - they shared a creative reminder of what today is celebrating. They passed out storm trooper masks to all the kids - the story of St Patrick and the gospel message he brought to Ireland on the back.

Years ago, a young lad named Maewyn Succat was kidnapped from England and sold into slavery here in Ireland.

He was very far from home and very lonely. He remembered what he had learned about God...that there was a God who loved and cared for him and desired a relationship with him. Maewyn began praying and talking to God. Maewyn grew very close to God and God kept him safe.

After six years he escaped slavery and made his way home. Years past and Maewyn continued growing closer to God. Maewyn began to have dreams of Irish men and women begging him to retrun to Ireland and work among them. Maewyn changed his name to Patrick.

He obeyed God's voice and he returned to Ireland, back to the very place he had been sold into slavery many years before. Back he came to tell our people about God and His Son Jesus Christ.

So it was, through Patrick the people of Ireland turned to God and God blessed Patrick as he blessed the people of Ireland. He lived a long life among the people he loved so much and had come to serve. On 17th March 460, Patrick died in Ireland, the land he loved.

Saint Patrick was a Christian missionary that changed the course of our country forever. The same message of the gospel that Patrick shared centuries ago is still true today. Just as the people then needed to hear that message and respond, we need to hear that message again and respond.

The message Patrick shared has been around for so long tha it is easy to take it for granted and to forget its power.

There is a God who loves us, who cares for us, who desires a relationship with us. Today is an opportunity to respond to that message.

First, we admit that we have broken the laws of God; that we have done wrong things in our lives. This is called sin.

Secondly, we must believe in Jesus. We must believe that He is the Son of God, died on the cross to forgive us, rose from the grave and that a relationship with Him is the only way to heaven.

Lastly, we must call on God. We do this in prayer. Today, God is waiting for you. Would you call on God in prayer and begin that relationship with Him? You can pray directly to God and He will hear your prayer.

If you would like to ask Jesus into your life, you can pray this prayer:

God, I admit that I am a sinner. I am sorry for the wrong I have done in my life. I believe in You. I believe in Your Son. I ask You now to come and live in me. Take control of my life. I want to serve You and live for You. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Jesus, I love You. Amen.

Please consider this today.

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

"For God so love the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned [going to hell after death], but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in God's one and only Son." John 3:16-18

"Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him." Hebrews 9:27,28

"For it is by grace you have been saved through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8,9

Do you have a relationship with Jesus - the only way to God and heaven?

Daniel or I would be glad to talk anytime:

dpresteng@hotmail.com

daniel_and_sarah@hotmail.com