SAINT PATRICK

This was written by my late husband Joe Geertz .. It was written in 2010 and he passed away February 1, 2013.    He was a good man who made me smile and so celebrated my Irish Heritage, and made my St. Patrick's Day each year so special.    I am grateful for all he was in my life and thank God for his life.   I just know he is winking at me from heaven!!

 

 

This was written to me by my husband March/2010 .. he is such a cutie don't you think??  The story of Saint Patrick is quite interesting.
Donsie,

May the next few moments of your life be filled with the lore of St. Patrick's Day as you view this awesome website.
http://stpatricksday.com/

Saint Patrick was truly a disciple of our Lord filled with the fire of God to be passed down through the generations and to reach the uttermost parts of the earth. You my dear one have that heritage within you and I am so glad we are married. Who would have ever thought a German man would marry an Irish Lassie? Anyhow I am glad for your heritage and count it as a blessing to be one with you in our search for what God wants to do through us.

I see vision in your eyes and it comes from the Irish heritage that you grew up to love.

You are the sweetest Lassie I have ever known!

I sure do love you!

Joey the Leprechaun

IRISH BLESSINGS AND MORE!

Top of the Mornin' to Ya my family!!!!!

Sending you some wonderful Irish Blessings, and Prayers ...

I am so excited... we are taking this morning off from work to watch the St. Patrick's Day Parade which I have always loved.  My sweetie has picked up some wonderful sticky buns and we will have coffee and juice.  How I love the parade!  It brings back so many memories for me from when I was a child.  Such nostalgia!!  Even from when I was young and was called "the Wild Irish Rose" .. which stuck over the years with the men I loved ... and being called "Colleen" the whole day and sometimes the whole week before!!   We'll be wearing green today and singing Saint Patrick's Day songs!  Joe has been playing them on the CD player all week. I feel like a real live "lassie"! hahahhahaaha  Just wish I was young enough to get on the tables and do the Irish Jig .. at the Irish Pubs like I used to do when I was an airline stewardess and would spend weekends at the Jersey Shore with my flying partner, Connie..

We have been working non-stop and decided it would be a good idea to just chill for a minute!!!!  My precious ones... the Irish heritage is a rich one... I am praying these prayers for each one of you.. my children .. their families and my grandchildren.. Joe's family and their loved ones..my sister and her husband.. my niece and nephews and their families, and all my friends! ....hope these prayers bless you.... xoxo Donna

An Old Irish Blessing

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

A Gaelic Blessing for my Grandchildren

Dearest Father in Heaven, Bless this child and bless this day Of new beginnings. Smile upon this child And surround this child, Lord, With the soft mantle of your love. Teach this child to follow in your footsteps, And to live life in the ways of Love, faith, hope and charity.

An Irish Prayer

May God give you... For every storm, a rainbow, For every tear, a smile, For every care, a promise, And a blessing in each trial. For every problem life sends, A faithful friend to share, For every sigh, a sweet song, And an answer for each prayer.

 

Irish Marriage Blessing

May God be with you and bless you. May you see your children's children. May you be poor in misfortunes and rich in blessings. May you know nothing but happiness from this day forward.

An Old Irish Blessing

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

A Wish for a Friend

Wishing you a rainbow For sunlight after showers— Miles and miles of Irish smiles For golden happy hours— Shamrocks at your doorway For luck and laughter too, And a host of friends that never ends Each day your whole life through!

An Old Cradle Song

Sleep, my babe, lie still and slumber, All through the night Guardian angels God will lend thee, All through the night Soft and drowsy hours are creeping, Hill and vale in slumber sleeping, Mother dear her watch is keeping, All through the night God is here, you'll not be lonely, All through the night 'Tis not I who guards thee only, All through the night Night's dark shades will soon be over, Still my watchful care shall hover, God with me His watch is keeping, All through the night

Remembered Joy

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free! I follow the plan God laid for me. I saw His face, I heard His call, I took His hand and left it all... I could not stay another day, To love, to laugh, to work or play; Tasks left undone must stay that way. And if my parting has left a void, Then fill it with remembered joy. A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss... Ah yes, these things I, too, shall miss. My life's been full, I've savoured much: Good times, good friends, a loved-one's touch. Perhaps my time seemed all too brief— Don't shorten yours with undue grief. Be not burdened with tears of sorrow, Enjoy the sunshine of the morrow.

An Old Celtic Blessing

May the blessing of light be on you— light without and light within. May the blessed sunlight shine on you and warm your heart till it glows like a great peat fire.

Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep

Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there... I do not sleep. I am the thousand winds that blow... I am the diamond glints on snow... I am the sunlight on ripened grain... I am the gentle autumn rain. When you waken in the morning's hush, I am the swift uplifting rush Of gentle birds in circling flight... I am the soft star that shines at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry— I am not there... I did not die...

Bless This House

Bless this house, o Lord, we pray. Make it safe by night and day. Bless these walls so firm and stout, Keeping want and trouble out. Bless the roof and chimney tall, Let thy peace lie over all. Bless the doors that they may prove Ever open to joy and love. Bless the windows shining bright, Letting in God's heavenly light. Bless the hearth a-blazing there, With smoke ascending like a prayer. Bless the people here within... Keep them pure and free from sin. Bless us all, that one day, we May be fit, O lord, to dwell with Thee.

In Time of Sorrow...

May you see God's light on the path ahead When the road you walk is dark. May you always hear, Even in your hour of sorrow, The gentle singing of the lark. When times are hard may hardness Never turn your heart to stone, May you always remember when the shadows fall— You do not walk alone.

A Blessing for Fair Day

God be with them now, and bring them home with their fair share of stock or money.

From Saint Patrick's Breastplate

Christ be 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 where I lie Christ where I sit Christ where I arise Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me Christ in every eye that sees me Christ in every ear that hears me Salvation is of the Lord.

Said in the morning when rising...

Christ be with me, be after me, be before me, and be at my right and left hand. May everything I do be for Christ.

An Old Irish Blessing

May love and laughter light your days, and warm your heart and home. May good and faithful friends be yours, wherever you may roam. May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures. May all life's passing seasons bring the best to you and yours!

LORD OF THE DANCE

LORD OF THE DANCE

Hi all.... Happy St. Patrick's Day!!! Being Irish ...this day has always been wonderful for me while growing up and still today... I was listening to some Irish Music today and some utube videos and came across Michael Flaterly's final performance of Lord of the Dance.. I began to wonder ... "who is the Lord of the dance in my own life"?

I was thinking today about how I could not help but dance before the Lord as a new Christian... as I would listen to praise music many times I just had to get up and dance!! His love just set my feet to dancing...

I love the poem.. God danced the Day you were born ....

You are loved, you are beautiful, you are a gift of God, His own possession,... You are a gift to all mankind, His gift of Love to them.. YOUR ARE HIS!!! AND... GOD DANCED THE DAY YOU WERE BORN!!! I could just picture our loving Father dancing when each one of us was born, and maybe even perhaps rejoicing with the angels. I also remember my girlfriend JoAnn's poem about changing dance partners... how she started out in the spirit just so happy to dance the dance of life with her Prince Jesus until others began to express to her how she could "dance her dance more perfectly"... the "Dance of Grace" story is below is written by my girlfriend JoAnn..

DANCE OF GRACE

Dear Ones:

The Lord revealed some truth to me about “Changing Partners during a dance” – I call it “Dance of Grace. I was reading Psalm 25 as well as pondering the “Fear of the Lord” – As I was thinking the “Fear of the Lord is to HATE evil” – NOT to be afraid of it!!!  In the past when I’ve sinned in an area that my flesh is soooooo weak in, I would begin to “hate myself” and not just “hate evil”.  This led to more and more “self- rejection and hatred.”  I have been asking the Lord this morning about hating evil – the Lord hates evil because it “steals, kills and destroys” – “LOVE BUILDS UP” – So, if we are trying to discern “Am I walking in love?” a good question to ask ourselves would be “Are my words and actions “building up” bringing restoration and redemption, or are they “tearing down” and bringing the FEAR OF EVIL”.  The Lord wants us to FEAR NO ONE – In Luke 12 it says to fear Him who has the power to cast into hell.  The Lord holds our very breath. AND HE IS OUR FATHER WHO LOVES US SO MUCH THAT HE SENT JESUS TO DIE IN OUR PLACE! 

Psalm 130 says in verse 3
"If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?

4 But with you there is forgiveness;
therefore you are feared.

Just wanted to say "I love you" and lets all agree together that we will keep dancing with Jesus - looking full in His wonderful face, that the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

Love, JoAnn (Following is the "Dance of Grace")

Dance of Grace

When the Holy Spirit revealed Jesus to me as my Savior, it was like being asked to dance by the Lord. He was leading the dance and I was lost as I gazed at His countenance and looked into His eyes of love and forgiveness. We moved almost effortlessly – in harmony and the unforced rhythms of grace. I was totally unaware of my own feet and was consumed with His face.

Somewhere during the dance the music changed and someone yelled in my ear, “Look at your feet! Watch where you are stepping! You can’t go there, you’ll fall! Don’t step on anyone’s toes! Be careful of going there, they don’t dance right!” I became painfully aware of my “feet,” my “walk” instead of the glorious face of Jesus, the joy of my Salvation. In fact, my feet became so heavy and awkward that it was difficult to move at all. The voice in my ear was so harsh and controlling – I should have known it wasn’t the voice of the gentle Shepherd of my Soul. Without realizing it I had changed partners. The harsh voice belonged to a taskmaster – the accuser of the brethren. The music was no longer sweet but pounded on my soul like a drill instructor. Once in awhile the Shepherd’s gentle voice would break through and speak tenderly to my heart, but like a battered woman who returns to her abuser, so would I.

 

If being abused and accused by that religious spirit wasn’t bad enough, I became an abuser and an accuser myself. Now I was teaching and training others to look at their “feet.” “You don’t go there! You don’t step on toes! You must not dance with anyone who could deceive you!! Do it like I’m doing it, because I’ve learned the right way!” Judging others by my “feet,” by my “walk,” in self-righteousness.

 

Today, the Lord has revealed and healed me from the abuse that came as a result of changing partners. Jesus cut in on the “heavy metal” dance to a religious spirit and spoke tenderly to my heart. “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live (dance) freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:23-end of chapter So I am dancing again with the Joy of my Salvation – Jesus.  Turning my eyes upon Jesus, looking full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.  I have officially resigned as assistant drill instructor.  There is only ONE Dance instructor!  I’m fixing my eyes on Jesus!

 

JoAnn Parrott

12/01/98

  

Okay.. this is Donna back writing again!  LOL

Today I remembered with tears of joy being rector for Women's Christian Prison Ministry Retreat weekends ... watching women in prison dancing all over a huge room dancing to the song "Lord of the Dance"... they had just finished a time of forgviness when they had written down all the people who had hurt them in their lives, all the unforgiveness they held for others, God and towards themselves were written down and then one by one each woman threw their lists in a huge burning garbage drum.  They were so free and happy.. what a  moment in time to see them crying and laughing and just totally enjoying the presence of the Lord... ...

I would love to say that over the years of my relationship with God that  I have never let go of my dance partner, but there have been times that I have even stopped dancing all together .. As I listened to the song  today .. I was touched and stirred all over again to take hold of the hand of Jesus and let Him lead me in this dance of life.

 Maybe the cares of this world, or disappointments, feelings of failure or just being plain worn out have bogged you down, maybe you feel tired of messing up on the dance floor, or wonder what ever happened to your dance partner.. did He abandon you on the dance floor??? I believe He is kissing our hands again and asing "may I have this dance"? There is room on the dance floor for all of us...

To listen to this song: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI4TYkkYe1o&feature=fvwp&NR=1

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Lord Of The Dance

Sydney Carter

 

I danced in the morning when the world was young
I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun
I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth
At Bethlehem I had my birth

Dance, dance, wherever you may be
I am the lord of the dance, said he
And I lead you all, wherever you may be
And I lead you all in the dance, said he

I danced for the scribes and the Pharisees
They wouldn't dance, they wouldn't follow me
I danced for the fishermen James and John
They came with me so the dance went on

Dance, dance, wherever you may be
I am the lord of the dance, said he
And I lead you all, wherever you may be
And I lead you all in the dance, said he

I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame
The holy people said it was a shame
They ripped, they stripped, they hung me high
Left me there on the cross to die

Dance, dance, wherever you may be
I am the lord of the dance, said he
And I lead you all, wherever you may be
And I lead you all in the dance, said he

I danced on a Friday when the world turned black
It's hard to dance with the devil on your back
They buried my body, they thought I was gone
But I am the dance, and the dance goes on

Dance, dance, wherever you may be
I am the lord of the dance, said he
And I lead you all, wherever you may be
And I lead you all in the dance, said he

They cut me down and I leapt up high
I am the life that will never, never die
I'll live in you if you'll live in me
I am the Lord of the dance, said he

Dance, dance, wherever you may be
I am the lord of the dance, said he
And I lead you all, wherever you may be
And I lead you all in the dance, said he

Blessings... Donna

From my Heart to Yours,

Donna/Donsie

 

ST. PATRICK'S DAY MEMORIES

ST  PATRICK’S DAY MEMORIES

... I am excited about St. Patrick's Day and for sure when I grew up it was quite an event .. in fact my whole life... I used to take the day off from School and had several people in my family in NYC in the parade. Of course we all wear something green,  and silly hats and now beaded necklace are popular with shamrocks. and silly green sunglasses and such.  

We usually go to an Irish Pub for Corned Beef dinner now ... (The term “Corned” comes from putting meat in a large crock and covering it with large rock-salt kernels of salt that were referred to as "corns of salt". This preserved the meat. The term Corned has been in the Oxford English Dictionary as early as 888 AD. The practice of salting meat goes back probably to ancient times in cold areas when they found that meat didn't spoil if it made contact with enough salt.) That is why corned beef has such a salty taste and it has to be cooked in water to "wash" much of the saltiness away. They serve the red new potatoes with it and steamed cabbage.

My husband Joe just made me green eggs and ham this morning with muffins for breakfast /lunch in honor of the day!!! Of course St. Patrick's Day cards are sent and the most fun is going somewhere where they play authentic Irish Drinking music as Joe put on for me this AM!!!  If at all possible, it is super to go somewhere where the Irish Jig dance can be seen ... and there will be the watching of the parade on TV if not there in person.  Many times we will have sticky buns and orange juice and coffee just like what has become tradition also for watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade and Christmas Morning.

Not to forget calling everyone Colleen and Lad! Calls will be made to all family in the AM wishing them a "Top O' the Mornin'" or "Tis' the day for the wearin' o' the green".. and jokes of Leprechauns will prevail! There will be fresh wonderful smelling green carnations and a pin to wear that says "kiss me or spank me I'm Irish!! We will not be artisan Jewelry vendors this year as we have in the past for the local parade... it was 110 degrees the last time and we broiled... Joe usually takes Gidget and when we had Chanel into the Leprechaun dog parade all dressed up, but of course Gidget will be all dressed and have her shamrock high top hat on!!! I just don't know where my elf shoes and striped stockings went to though!! hahaah  Top off the day with some pistachio ice cream and you will have had just about the perfect day!!!

So sorry you can't be with us to enjoy the fun... I would even see if I could find a shelaleigh for you to carry to the celebration!

blessing.... Donsie

 

 

Blessings ... and Erin Go Braugh!!! 

 

Donsie

donnatrex@yahoo.com

 



PRAYER OF ST. PATRICK

I just wanted to share this wonderful prayer of St. Patrick.  I love his passion and fire for God.  Lord, captivate our hearts with a deep desire to know and serve you more.  Blessings... Donna/Donsie

A Poem by St.Patrick
Written by St. Patrick in 377 A.D.
Lorica

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In preachings of the apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me
From snares of the devil,
From temptations of vices,
From every one who desires me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and evil,
Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.

Christ shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that reward may come to me in abundance.
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 in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through a confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation