This is going to be fun! You see--"A saint he is!"--"A saint I ain't!" or am I? Don your green hat...dye your hair green...dance a jig...or whatever...and come on, let's parade down the path of the "Mediterranean-Irish" shamrocks to find out if you 'n me really and rightfully fit in...!

During the St. Pat season, I once found myself hangin' around a bunch of saints for three nights at a national Christian women's conference in our city, hoping some of it would rub off...and it did! I came home each night full of godly wisdom and inspiration--but not just from WORDS. Words are lovely--people are ALIVE! I saw two 50-years-in-missionary-service senior saints graciously honored; I saw a lovely mid-life saint in worship...she also walks the streets of dark, dark Calcutta in search of souls. I prayed with a saint who brought Christ to Bangladesh and her lovely Christian spirit to my heart. I watched women--saints--of all ages, races, sizes and attire cry and worship, praise and proclaim, listen and learn--I was among celebrity.

No, not the celebrity the world would acclaim--the celebrity the devil profanes! For you see, he's scared of a thousand women who love the Lord and proclaim His name wherever they go. They're saints, not in a fool's eyes, but in the Father's eyes...we each heard within our own hearts, "This is my beloved daughter in whom I am well pleased." For, in the quiet of our own souls and spirits, knowing full well our inadequacies, our inconsistencies, our faults and failures, we also felt the unconditional love of a Heavenly Father smiling down upon us, saying, "You're a saint...sure, with a small "s"....imperfect but loved, sometimes impossible but precious--in My sight"--and that's what counts!!

So, go ahead, world, spruce up in your jolly green, celebrate the wonderful life of a godly Saint Patrick...but look again...there's thousands more--men, women, teens, boys and girls--all saints through the precious Blood of Jesus Christ. We're not what we WERE and we're not what we're GONNA be, but bless God, by His grace, we're saints in progress, saints of purpose and saints personified in the eyes of our Lord!

Now believe it, saint _____________ (fill in YOUR name here!). You may not feel like a saint today, but you ARE--in HIS eyes--and that's all that counts! Happy St. Patrick's Day--enjoy good food, good fun and good friends this weekend--I'll be with you in spirit wherever you are...just look for the saint in charge of the chocolate!

Delight in a Word from the Well--a refreshing in the Water of His Word