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Click here to see scenes of a family of communities working together, standing together, praying together, mourning together. We weep for the families, we stand as a Family together for them.
On Christmas Day we begin to celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas 
commemorated in the famous song of that title. Today, January 6th, is the Day of the Epiphany that is celebrated as Christmas in many countries.
For Christmas this year I wanted to take the 12 Days of celebration to give 12 Thanks of Christmas. Several years ago I heard a story about the carol, 12 Days of Christmas. It said that during a time of spiritual persecution the song was created to help young Christians remember the foundations of their faith. Each day of the carol supposedly has a hidden meaning, I decided to use them as focal points to thank my Savior who gave His all to set us free.
For me the ideas behind the story and the correlation of the song to the truths of God’s Word and faith are too fun to leave behind. If this means I am creating a new story, so be it. I thank Jesus for His love for me and this is my joy at this season of celebration.
The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ
“For unto us a Child is born…And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”
Lord, on this day we celebrate Your birth and I am thankful that You had a plan, a way and a purpose to bring me into eternity with You. Thank You that Your birthday made my eternity birthday possible and Your gifts make my place in Your Body possible.
Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments
“The Word became flesh & made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one & only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace & truth”
Two Testaments joined together in history & our hearts in One Savior. This is a glorious truth. I am very Thankful for His Word, lived out on Earth in Jesus showing us the manifestation of God’s very character.
Three French hens stood for faith, hope & love
“When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope & love. But the greatest of these is love”
Faith, Hope & Love: for those willing to be mature, to be great. Willing to be thankful?
Four calling/colly birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John
Jn 1:4-5 In Him was life, andthat life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, & the darkness has not overcomeit
I am thankful God recognizes our varying ways of understanding the world around us. We are gifted differently, according to God’s plan, & we “get it” differently too. Truth from men who walked with and witnessed Truth.
Five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament
“live by keeping all His decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life”
PTL for the joy of living under God’s loving eye. PTL for a forgiveness that is worth writing on my hands & teaching to my kids. Thank you Lord for giving us rules to live by that bless us & keep us away from being useless vessels.
Six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
“God saw all that He had made, and it was very good”
Be thankful that ALL He made was very good! Whenever you begin to believe the junk of accusation instead of the hope of God, remind yourself that God didn’t make junk. God doesn’t’ condemn us, He recreates us, restores us to the creation default of “very good”. Tomorrow is a good day to start the “very good”
Seven swans a-swimming represented 7 motivational gifts to the Church in Romans 12:
Perceiver, Server, Teacher, Exhorter, Contributor, Administrator, Compassion
So very thankful that God planned for each of us to have a place in His Body, His Church. That we were meant to be here for one another, to love & take care of each other using the giftings & talents He put into us to build each other up. What a great plan!
Eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
I’m thankful that Our God is One who calls us to be more than we think we can be, to be better and richer in blessing others. That we are to be people who allow Him and others to be of higher value than ourselves and rejoice in doing so
Mt 5: 3-11
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self Control (Gal 5:22)
Give thanks that this year can be a year to grow more fruitful!
Did you ever notice that trees naturally bear fruit? That it’s in their DNA to do so? Did you know that when you accepted Christ’s forgiveness, repenting of sin, He made you a new creature-able to bear the Fruit of the Holy Spirit who regenerated you? You are to do it naturally. Maybe not a huge crop in the first year but it will come out of you as you let the strength of the root – Christ – grow in you & thru you then you WILL bear these fruits, just like breathing, more & more. Take note though, fruit bearers must be pruned regularly to maintain a life of growth with greater and better quality fruit. Don’t fear the pruning, be thankful for the Master Gardener who knows what and when to prune your life for a greater harvest for His Kingdom.
Ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments
One God to serve; No idols; No misuse of God’s Name; Keep the day of Rest holy; Honor your parents; Don’t murder; Don’t commit adultery; Don’t steal; Don’t give false testimony; Don’t covet other’s things.
Ten simple rules. Jesus added that loving God & others will keep you working at it. Thank you Lord for YOUR love that gives me grace to live a covenant life with You.
Exodus 20:1-17 And God spoke all these words:
1. “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.”
2 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
3 “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
4 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
5 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
6 “You shall not murder.
7 “You shall not commit adultery.
8 “You shall not steal.
9 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
10 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples
Mk 1:17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people”
Twelve who followed. Dropped everything immediately and followed. Thought the idea of learning from Jesus was too good an opportunity to miss, so they followed – walked – learned – prayed – cast out demons – healed the sick – experienced God’s power in their own lives – were transformed. I’m thankful I can follow Him, be transformed, be renewed. I’m human, I might fail some tests, but I’m following!
MK 3:13-18 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve—designating them apostles—that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder); Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.
Our church in HK sang a version of the Apostles Creed as a worship song – still one of my favorites. 12 Foundational points to keep us on firm foundation. 12 Truths that provide a drum beat for the harmonies of our lives. I’m thankful that He is trustworthy, glorious, amazing, and most of all, My Lord! NOW THAT is an EPIPHANY!
1. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
2. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
3. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
4. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
5. On the third day he rose again.
6. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
7. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Spirit
9. the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints
10. the forgiveness of sins
11. the resurrection of the body
12. and life everlasting
Amen.
Merry (Twelve Days of) Christmas Everyone
Jan Eide
throwing pebbles into the pond 