The 12 Days Of Christmas

This year we decided instead of opening all of our presents on Christmas Day, we were going to spread it out. I hate it every year that you spend all this time shopping and it is over in 15 minutes. I had really been looking online for some neat traditions to start this year, being our first year as husband and wife and decided I would do some research on the 12 days of Christmas. I had heard of silly things done to change up the ole' song but was amazed to find the true meaning of the song. So last night we started sharing the 12 days of Christmas and each night Derric will open an envelope of the true meaning of each day before we open our gifts..

The First day of Christmas is of course the Partridge in a pear tree.... but there is meaning behind that. The pear tree in a symbol of Jesus Christ, the Son of God whose birthday we celebrate on December 25th the first day of Christmas. We decided to start 12 days before Christmas just so we didn't spoil the presents til after the 25th, but in all reality the 12 days of Christmas starts on December 25th and ends January 6th. In the Song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge that feign injury to decoy predatore from her helpless nestlings.
"Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered you under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but you would not have it so..." Luke 13:34

On the Second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me..... Two Turtle Doves which is symbolic for the Old Testament and the New Testament.

On the Third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me..... 3 French Hens represent Faith, Hope, and Love.

On the Fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me.....4 Calling Birds, is really Matthew, Mark, Luke and John the disciples.

On the Fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me..... 5 Golden Rings, is First Five books of the Old Testament in the Bible, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.

On the Sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me..... 6 Geese a Laying is the six days of creation that confesses God as Creator and Sustainer of the world (Genesis 1).

On the Seventh Day of Christmas my true love gave to me... 7 Swans a Swimming. This is really the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit:
1-Prophecy
2-Ministry
3-Teaching
4-Exhortation
5-Giving (my love language)
6-Leading
7-Compassion
(Romans 12:6-8 and 1 Corinthians 12:8-11)

On the Eighth Day of Christmas my true love gave to me... 8 Maids A Milking
The eight Beatitudes: 1)Blessed are the poor to spirit, 2) those who mourn, 3) the meek, 4)those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 5) the merciful, 6) the pure in heart, 7) the peacemakers, 8) those who are persecutes for righteousness' sake.
Matthew 5:3-10

On the ninth day of Christmas the nine ladies dancing are the nine fruits of the spirit (Gal.5).
Love
Joy
Peace
Longsuffering
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control

10. On the tenth day of Christmas the ten lords a-leaping are the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 20)
You shall have no other gods before Me.

You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Honor your father and your mother.

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.

11. Eleven pipers piping stand for the eleven faithful disciples. (Luke 6:14-16) Not including Judas, the betrayer

12. Twelve drummers drumming symbolize the 12 points of belief in the Apostles Creed.
1. I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:

2. And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:

3. Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:

4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:

5. The third day he rose again from the dead:

6. He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:

7. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead:

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost:

9. I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints:

10. The forgiveness of sins:

1l. The resurrection of the body:

12. And the life everlasting. Amen.



We also started reading last night together A Case For Christmas author Lee Strobel of Case For Faith one of Derric's favorite books. After Christmas we are going to begin to read "Couples Who Pray" it's a 40 day prayer Challenge for couples to pray aloud together for 5 minutes for 40 days. Seems pretty powerful, very excited.