Twelve Days of Christmas

So many Christmas emails are flying around and while I can't vouch for the authenticity of this one, it IS an interesting explanation of a crazy carol!

Ever wonder what leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?  

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember. 

-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.

-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit -- Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit -- Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

Merry (Twelve Days of) Christmas Everyone!!

Stressed and calling out

For some reason I'm feeling compelled to get this down.  Well, I know that reason to be the prompting of the Holy Spirit. so I'm going to do it.  So to whomever stumbles on this -- God sent you here, so I hope this is helpful for whatever stressful situation you find yourself in. Or the one that may be headed your way ;)

I always envision stressful situations as waves on the beach.  When I was a little girl and we went to the beach, I hated the feeling of a wave knocking me down.  Salt water burning my sinuses, and murky water blurring my vision.  Shifting sand and crashing currents keeping me from getting a foothold.  Thrashing around and trying to get OUT, and then my dad reaching down in the surf and lifting me up in his arms.

So in the middle my current crashing waters, God is reminding me that He is the Dad who is going to scoop me up, brush the hair from my face and show me that everything is ok.  That HE IS going to MAKE everything ok.

This is my praise and prayer:
Lord,

• You are Jehovah Jireh, my Provider. Like You provided a lamb for Abraham and Isaac to sacrifice, You will give me what I need in this situation.  
• You are Jehovah Maccaddeshcem, my Sanctifier.  Like you set apart Your children from the world, You will use this situation to set me apart from the world and draw me closer to You.
• You are Jehovah Nissi, my Banner.  You identify me as YOUR own, and like You gave Your children victory over their enemies, You will give me victory over all my worries and thoughts and emotions.
• You are Jehovah Rapha, my Healer.  Like You healed the sick from their illnesses, You will bring healing and rest to me.
• You are Jehovah Roi, the God Who sees me, my Shepherd.  You see my brokenness and my heartbreak, and like You led Your children through the wilderness and into the promised land, You will lead me thru this stress and into a place of rejoicing.
• You are Jehovah Sabbaoth, the Lord of Hosts.  Like You fought for Your children in the heavenlies, You will fight the unseen dark forces of the world that are coming against me in this situation.
• You are Jehovah Shalom, my Peace.  Enough said :)
• You are Jehovah Shammah, my Constant Companion.  Your Spirit goes before me, stands beside me, guards behind me, and lives within me.  Where can I go from Your presence?
• You are Jehovah Tsikidnu, my Righteousness.  Because of Jesus, I can come into Your presence and as I learn to more fully rely on You thru this trial, You will make me more like Him.

Thank You, Lord, that You are FAITHFUL.  Thank You for drawing me closer to You, for providing for me, comforting me, fighting for me and giving me victory.  And for teaching me to depend on YOU and not myself.  In Jesus name, Amen.