2018 March 17 Saturday

2018 March 17 Saturday in Liberty Hill Texas

Happy Saint Patrick Day. My DNA test showed that I’m 13% Irish but in my searching for ancestors, I’ve found only one born in Ireland and his parents were both French. But, I wore green anyway.

Ella, in the other hand, has found her Irish ancestors. However, they wouldn’t be proud of her wearing green. They were Scots Irish which means they were part of the two hundred thousand Scots who migrated to Ireland. The Scots Irish were predominantly Protestant. So rather than wearing green in honor of St. Patrick. They would have worn orange in honor of William of Orange (Protestant) who defeated King James (Catholic) of great Britain. Which is why the Irish flag is green on one third and orange on one third, with there white of peace between them. Here endeth the lesson.

We awoke to a humid sixty six degrees this morning. The sky remained grey and overcast ask day. So no sunrise photo.

After breakfast we played a couple hands of Canasta. I won one and Ella won the second.

The app on my phone told me that something had been delivered to my post office box. So once we got around, we stopped at the post office on the way to Walmart in Cedar Park to purchase the items that we were unable to get yesterday at H.E.B.

The truck’s thank needed topping off and then we went to Little Cesar’s for the stuffed crust pizza that they’ve been advertising. Only to be told that they didn’t have the cheese needed to stuff the crust. I ordered an Italian sausage and mushroom with extra cheese.

It was a sticky 80° when we arrived home in the afternoon I was glad that the air was running.

Once the groceries were put away it was recliner time.

At sunset the eastern sky was as impressive as the western, maybe more.

MUSINGS

TEAR YOUR HEART NOT YOUR CLOTHES

Joel 2:12-13
“But even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart– with fasting, crying, and mourning.” Tear your hearts, not your clothes. Return to the LORD your God. He is merciful and compassionate, patient, and always ready to forgive and to change his plans about disaster.”

Too often I’m much more in my head than I am in my heart. However my most honest prayers are emotional. Those times when I am so filled with joy that i can’t contain it. So I turn to the Lord with praise and thanksgiving. Or conversely when my heart is broken with such great sorrow that i can’t even put words to it when “the Spirit himself intercedes for us (me) through wordless groans.”

Our personal prayers are just that – personal. The prophet Joel said to tear your heart not your clothes. It was a custom, when in mourning or as an act of repentance, to tear strips of clothing as an outward sign. Joel was reminding his listeners that the inward was more important than the outward.

Fasting is not dieting. Fasting is an act of sacrifice. Biblically fasting is a way of intensifying the prayer.

Jesus also warms us to not put on a “show” with our prayers and fasting.

Matthew 6:16-18
“When you fast, stop looking sad like hypocrites. They put on sad faces to make it obvious that they’re fasting. I can guarantee this truth: That will be their only reward. When you fast, wash your face and comb your hair. Then your fasting won’t be obvious. Instead, it will be obvious to your Father who is with you in private. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you.”

We are currently in the season of Lent, which is a time of reflection, remorse, and repentance before the celebration of Easter. Traditionally people “give up” that is to sacrifice something during this time. Just remember to “wash your face and comb your hair” while your heart is torn.