Welcome to CCS

Dia annseo isteach!
God to all here!

Greetings all,

I've just returned from a trip out west to Colorado to visit my new grand daughter. What a winter storm the Lord blessed us with!!!

I'd like to also welcome you to the second half of the Celtic Year, Samhain (saw-wen). It is in this time that all things rest in the assured blessings of new life to come. May it be a blessed time of rest and reflection for you all...

Slan
Marty

Greetings all,

In catching up with my emails today I noticed a new site on the Celtic Christian Web Ring. Its a survey being conducted by a group in the UK. Of course, their approach to CC is still pretty Roman in the way it posed it questions but it looks like they may be open to some input for change. Here's their link http://www.celticchristianitytoday.co.uk/ It is a bit lengthy but not terribly so. The last page you can leave comments for them, which is where I explained more in detail how they should be viewing CC. (non clerical!) Please give it a try if you have time...

Slan
Marty

I took the survey, but man oh man. I'm sure my answers were all over the place. A few times I wished there was a "none of the above" choice.

"Samhain. It is in this time that all things rest in the assured blessings of new life to come."

Martin, that is a great way to look at winter and the winters of our life.

Dia annseo isteach!
God to all here!

Hey Lillian,

Thanks but that's the Celtic perspective on the Cycle of Life. As Newell puts it in some of his prayers, it is the 'infolding' in preparation for the 'unfolding' in Springtime. Sometimes O'Donohue referred to night as the 'womb of our soul', a place we return to for nurturing and renewal before the next day's business.

Life is in everything, even in the dark and mysterious places! Everything serves His purposes... even quiet!

I'm glad you appreciate the perspective. Since its also the New Year, its a time of reflection in preparation for the year to come. The other festivals follow the same psychology, Joy in whatever season of the year!

Well, thanks for your comments... always glad to explain things here.

Slan
Marty

Edited by author 11-02-2009 06:16 PM
Greetings, again, in the name of the Triune God! A special blessing to you Martin. I was here at one time but the my account became confused and I didn't get anything or able to post. I was previously known as Mac for you old timers.

 I was in Arizona for quite a while but then the senior pastor at the church where I was the associate led the church into a disastrous building program and to pay for it dissolved my position to pay the mortgage. Result: I was laid off in May and have been unemployed since. The Lord sold our home just a couple of weeks ago and we moved to northern Colo where we have family.

So here we sit, waiting and watching for the movement and leadership of the Wild Goose in our lives and situation.

Peace and Grace,

Mac

Hey Mac!!

There are so many things I wish I had known about you!! Sorry for the disruption to your life in that previous congregation. Wow! Your salary would pay for a whole new building? (hehehe) Is that Scottish blarney?

Last week my wife and I went to see our new grand daughter ... in Longmont!! Wish I had known your whereabouts! How did you do in the snow storm? In Longmont, I noticed a whole in the weather map that kept things pretty light for us. I'm positive it was God's mercy for our travels!

Be assured we'll all be praying for you but as I told Lillian earlier, sometimes, God is in the still and the quiet! That Wild Goose (Holy Spirit) is rather restless though so enjoy it while you have it! It will be back to work for you soon enough...

Great to hear from you again, please keep us posted on your life. You are still considered one of the 'originals' here so be at home please. Any other prayer requests or news bits, please consider us part of the family...

Slan
Marty

We aren't that far from Longmont; about 40 minutes. We are, at the moment, in Greeley. Glad you had safety in your travels and the Lord's hand was upon you.

No, the salary wouldn't have cut it for the building. It was an excuse from a very insecure man. But that is my past and I look to the future.

As for the snow, it was a nice change of pace from AZ. My dear better half and I grew up here so it was literally a homecoming.

Sorry for your troubles, Mac. Glad you've found your way back to us. God likely has something else in mind for you now, maybe something much better. Blessing to you and your wife.

No doubt HE does, Cindy! God's abundance is amazing and He can handle all our troubles.

Dia annseo isteach!
God to all here!

Greetings all,

This past week we mentioned about the season of rest and restoration. In Newell's 'Celtic Benediction', Tuesday Night Prayers of Thanksgiving he speaks of the need for replenishment. Take a moment to think on how God has prepared your for each day and calls you aside to just sit with Him awhile.

Scripture and Meditation

'The earth is full of your goodness, O God.' Psalm 33:5

'Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth
and dies, it remains just a single grain;
but if it dies, it bears much fruit.' John 12:24

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession

For earth's cycles and seasons
for the rising of spring and the growing summer
for autumn's fullness and the hidden depths of winter
thanks be to you, O Christ.

For the life force in seeds buried in the ground
that shoot green and bear fruit and fall to the earth
thanks be to you.

Let me learn from the earth's cycles of birthing
the times and seasons of dying.

Let me learn of you in the soil of my soul, O Christ,
and your journey through death to birth.

Let me learn of you in my soul this night
and the journey of letting go.

Recall the events of the day and pray for the life of the world.

Matthew Fox in "Orginal Blessinig" has a whole section on letting go/sinking/dying. I was slow to appreciate it, but I think I'm getting there.

so i lost my job over a week ago now. i just got internet at home yesterday so i wanted to touch base and let you all know that i'm doing really well.


GOD worked a miracle on steve. He hit rock bottom and when he looked up he saw Christ standing over him offering him redemption. (that's basically how he describes it). He decided to dedicate his life to Christ and expressed a desire to start our marriage over from the VERY beginning. i swear to you it's like he is a whole new person (makes sense right- "Behold I make all things new" ?) i'm just so amazed at how different he is (i know it's early yet, but steve has NEVER been this way- everyone around him is flabergasted). i'm still very cautious b/c my heart is still so brused, but i'm hopeful. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRAYERS. i truley believe that they made a huge difference in my life.

we're moving slowly (VERY slowly) but i believe that with GOD as our number one priority that steve and i can build a beautiful marriage. please pray that i am able to set the past behind me so that i can move forward. i'm struggling with letting go of what happened. steve really is trying everything to help me move past it and he's doing everything a good husband ought to now, but i just have trouble letting go.

i'm glad im able to be at home more now, with my daughter and to have the time to really devote to my Mary Kay business that i started last month. and also b/c it gives me a better appreciation for "home". before when i worked at the office, i was rarely here and it didnt feel like home, but rahter just the place i slept.

i'm keeping everyone in my prayers! and i'll just be lurking around here for a while reading everyone's posts and chiming in when i have one of those rare thoughts about the topic!

Blessings to everyone!!

Dia annseo isteach!
God to all here!

Hey Gina,

Great news dear! It sounds like a real miracle that has happened in you life! We rejoice with you at all that God has started to do for you. Its just so amazing what God can do when we pray together in belief...

Lurking is fine but way too many do that here. If anything crosses your mind or heart please don't hesitate to bring it up! Thanks for bringing your prayer requests and your victories to us...

Slan
Marty

Hi Gina,
Thanks for sharing your news. I've known some people who have worked through things like this and saved their marriage (and gave God the credit.) It's still hard, but it does happen. You are very wise to go slowly and protect your bruised heart, in my opinion. Take it for what it's worth because I've never been through what you have. Are you two going to counseling?

What a blessing to be at home with your daughter. Still praying...

Edited by author 11-07-2009 12:09 PM
Hello again, Gina. Please know that I, too, am praying for all.

Mac