Simpson - The Celtic Book of Days: Ancient Wisdom for Each Day of the Year From the Celtic Followers of Christ

Daily Light

from the Celtic Saints

a years worth of ancient wisdom
to bring new meaning to modern life

Ray Simpson

Anamchara Books

Copyright 2013 by Anamchara Books, a Division of Harding House Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the publisher.

Anamchara Books
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Vestal, NY 13850

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-937211-12-7
ebook ISBN: 978-1-937211-13-4

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012911875

First published in the UK as Celtic Daily Light. Used by permission of Kevin Mayhew Ltd, Buxhall, Stowmarket, IPI4 3BW, UK. Copyright: 2010 Kevin Mayhew Ltd

Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from either the authors or the editors own versions of the Bible verses.

Scripture quotations labeled cjb are taken from the Complete Jewish Bible, copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. www.messianicjewish.net/jntp. Distributed by Messianic Jewish Resources Intl. www.messianicjewish.net.

Scripture quotations labeled erv are from the Easy-to-Read Version, copyright 2006 World Bible Translation Center.

Scripture quotations labeled esv are from the English Standard Version Bible, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations labeled gnb are from Good News Bible (Todays English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations labeled gnt are from the Good News Translation (Todays English Version, Second Edition), copyright 1992 American Bible Society. American Bible Society, 1865 Broadway, New York, NY 10023 (www.americanbible.org). Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations labeled gwt are from GODS WORD, a copyrighted work of Gods Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by Gods Word to the Nations. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations labeled isv are from The Holy Bible: International Standard Version Release 2.1. Copyright 19962012, The ISV Foundation. All rights reserved internationally. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations labeled jb are from the Jerusalem Bible,

Scripture quotations labeled jbp are from J. B. Phillips, The New Testament in Modern English, 1962 edition, published by HarperCollins. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations labeled nab are from the New American Bible, copyright 1991, 1986, 1970. Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations labeled nasb are from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973,1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation (www.Lockman.org). Used by permission.

Scripture quotations labeled niv are from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV, copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations labeled nlt are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations labeled nkjv are from the Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations labeled nrsv are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations labeled rsv are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 (2nd edition, 1971) by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

INTRODUCTION

The readings in this book are taken from the words of Celtic pilgrims, poets, or saints. In addition, however, I have included the sayings of people from many lands who are natural soul friends to the Celtic saints. Throughout the year, interweaving with the cycles of the church year and natural seasons, youll find themes like these:

• Gods guidance
• spiritual disciplines
• wisdom from the Desert Christians
• stories of saints and angels

Scripture Readings

Every book in the Bible is covered during the year. If you read the scripture readings for each date, by the end of the year, you will have worked your way through the entire Bible.

Easter Readings

Readers who wish to synchronize readings with Easter should start the Easter readings on April 1 if Easter Day falls after April 1. Count the number of days after April 1 that Easter falls. Choose the same number of days readings from the period July 1 through 27, and use these from March 21 to April 1. (If Easter Day falls before April 1 transfer the right number of days readings from March 21.) Readings about the Cross will then synchronize with Holy Week. This will allow you to synchronize the readings with all the church seasons without losing any readings chosen for a particular saints anniversary, except for the anniversary of John Wesley on May 24. When you reach July, omit those readings you used in April; the Daily Light date will again correlate with the date in your diary.

Helpful Resources

At the back of the book, youll find:

• Whos Who in the Celtic World: to help you keep track of the many individuals who inhabited the world of both the ancient and modern Celts.

• Index of People : so that you can find material on a favorite Celtic saint, particular author, or specific source.

• Index of Subjects : to help you find readings particularly linked to areas of interest or need, such as anger, healing, depression, evangelism.

• Index of Bible Texts : identifying the particular Bible passages used on each date.

• Map : showing key places mentioned in the book and the historical geographic location of the Celtic saints (for example, St. Petroch in the southwest and St. Mungo in Scotland).

Please note: The term Celtic church is used as shorthand for churches in Celtic lands within the one, universal Christian Church during the fifth to tenth centuries after Christ.

Ray Simpson

WINTER

REACHING OUT

Following God is a pilgrimage of faith.

The road ahead is only revealed as we step out in trust,

with God the Creator, the Son, and the Spirit before us.

JANUARY 1 Let Us Go Forward

Psalm 105:122; Joshua 1; Philippians 3:124:1

Forgetting what lies behind,

and reaching forward to what lies ahead,

I press on toward the goal of Gods upward call,

my high vocation in Christ.