From 1558 to 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 and 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!

And so, let us remember, that it is not OK to say “Happy Holiday” – when did that all come about? 

As CHRISTmas approaches, let us remember that it is a Christian celebration of Christ’s birth!  In order to give Him the praise and the glory – let us remember to say loudly and clearly to those we meet; to those we send greeting cards to; to them all let us say:  HAPPY CHRISTMAS  one and all!

http://pepeprays.wordpress.com

Related posts:

1. God’s Gifts Are Sometimes Wrapped in Unattractive Paper
2. The Long Wait for Jesus
3. Christmas Bell Ringing in Boca Raton
4. Emmanuel – God Is With Us.
5. The Kingdom of God Is At Hand
6. Salvation Poem
7. My Soul Waits For The Lord

Beginning my day, as I always do – reading my bible and praying for family and friends, enjoying the view from my sunroom – and watching the birds at the feeders, all of a sudden, my eye ‘catches’ a bright flash of color!  Sunshine yellow – a beautiful American Goldfinch – the first one I had seen at the feeders.  What joy!   Instantly, my day was brighter by seeing this little ‘bringer of light’ into the still drab (then)winter-weary garden – (from ‘darkness to light)! 

Life can also be a matter of light or darkness.  We need to choose wisely in how we live.  Light – (meaning a life of believing in and trusting in God) and leading a life of integrity and purity, in thought, word and deed; or we can decide to continue in ‘darkness’ living life as we always have, right or wrong.  Trusting in something or someone we cannot see, or choosing to stay in (a life of)darkness! 

The latter choice can put us in the tenuous position of losing our freedom (to come under the control of someone else of losing the respect of all those we love), by leading us into demeaning lifestyles, where we no longer respect ourselves and become people pleasers, to those who have dark minds and spirits.  No love, no respect (no light)– only control in all that they demand of us (darkness).

John 12:44-46   Then Jesus cried out and said, ‘He who believes in Me, believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me.  And he who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.  I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness’.  (NKJV)

I pray for each of us that we choose the lighter pathway in life. That we become willing to trust in the wisdom of the bible, and live according to its’ guidelines, (it can change our life)! It will not guarantee a life without troubles, but it will ensure we each have an inner strength to draw upon, when life becomes too hard to bear.  

Many years ago, new-found Christian friends helped me re-learn trust in this way – they helped me see that by trusting in an unseen God, each new day became brighter, brought more joy and renewed hope, instead of dread. I chose to follow their biblical advice and I began trusting in God: I found a calm that was not of my own making – when I gave up trying to control my own life.  Just as a goldfinch can bring ‘light’ into a garden, so God, through inviting Jesus into our lives, can bring life-giving light to our hearts.

John 14:6 – I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.

Prayer:  Abba, grant us the courage and the wisdom to choose what is right for us, what is good for our lives.  Help us find the right pathway and step out of the darkness of the world, nto a life that is filled with You, with Jesus, with love, kindness and respect.  In Your precious name, we pray, Amen

 http://pepeprays.wordpress.com

Related posts:

1. When the Ember Dies
2. In a Cave
3. The Lord Has Taken Up My Cause
4. Since We Are No Longer Darkness
5. In Hours of Darkness
6. When God Seems Far Away
7. Seeing God’s Glory In the Valley

Devotional Christian has a new look.

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Philippians 4:13- I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency] (AMP).

My food didn’t have to taste good or be good for me. It just needed to be swallowable. Food left its crumby trails everywhere and like Hansel and Gretel, I followed my desirous nature into the weight loss business. I wrote several cookbooks. The latest one is called ‘Fifty Years of Tried and True family Recipes.’

Oh yes, I know about food. Eventually I came to understand that childhood abuse left me in this state. That is, the state of a perpetual and passionate desire for food. My weight fluctuated like a balloon on a hot-air atmospheric binge. When the pain and memories were too great, I had a nervous breakdown. Then my eating disorder took hold. For 16 years I suffered with bulimia.

Finally, someone told me about Jesus. This Jesus, the Son of God, loved me so much that He came to earth to live and then die on a cross—just for me. He rose from the dead—-just for me.

When I asked Him into my life, He forgave all my sins. His Holy Spirit came to live in me.

With His help, I was able to give up my addictive lifestyle. I wrote Bible Studies like ‘God, Gluttony and You’, to help others find that same freedom. I’m still a size 10 Wanna Be but I definitely am no longer a size 26 Havta Be.

When my husband and two children asked Jesus into their lives, we became a family united for God. No, life did not become a fairy tale story of happy ever after. We’ve been through more life struggles than most people. You’ll hear about them all eventually if you keep reading these devotionals!  But God has always seen us through because Jesus is the answer to every question.

Hubby and I live near Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Our five darling grandchildren live near by, with their parents.

I’m a conference speaker and author. My latest books include Heartfelt, 366 Devotions for Common Sense Living and the upcoming Meeting Myself, Snippets from a Fractured Mind (my story of abuse and recover).

Brenda J Wood

http://heartfeltdevotionals.wordpress.com

http://devotionalchristian.com/author/brenda/feed/

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Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.  I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. — Psalm 86:11-12, NIV

As a busy wife, mother, and writer of Christian non-fiction, I am all about God’s Word.  It is the one thing I know I can count on in a world of unpredictability and instability, the sure foundation that sustains me in every circumstance of life.  My passion is to share God’s Word with others through my books, blogs, and devotionals with the hope that others will come to love God’s Word and enjoy a more intimate relationship with Him.

My thirty-five year journey as a committed Christian has been filled with much joy and many growing pains.  I received Jesus as my Savior at the age of fifteen and lived in close fellowship with Him through my high school years.  However, as so many young people do, I put God on the back burner when I went off to college and for nearly seven years lived in rebellion against God and the truths of His Word.  Despite my determination to live life on my own terms, in His mercy God protected me until I ultimately discovered the one thing I could not live without — a relationship with Jesus!  Since surrendering all of my life to Him as a young adult, He has blessed me in more ways than I can count and walked with me on one incredible journey!  He has shown me time after time that the peace and joy resulting from obedience to His Word are by far sweeter than any tangible reward or accomplishment.  Through all of life’s challenging moments, I know that God is ever-present and He will be faithful to the promises of His Word.

Among my greatest blessings are my husband, Steve, and our two children, Chris and Joy.  We are privileged to attend a wonderful Christ-centered church where we are actively involved in music ministry and Bible study. 

I have authored two devotional books — Good to the Last Drop: Refreshing Inspiration for Homeschool Moms and Other Busy Women, which was released in May, 2010, and Lessons from the La-Z-Boy: Inspiring Devotions for Busy Believers, which is scheduled for release in late 2011.  For more information, please visit www.deedeewike.com.

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“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” Deuteronomy 6:5

Deuteronomy 6:5 has become my life verse in recent years.  It seems to be all encompassing of everything I want to give to my Lord and Savior.  I am reminded of the rich young ruler who couldn’t give up his wealth to follow Jesus.  I don’t want to hold anything back.  A lofty goal, I suppose, and certainly one that is not from pride or arrogance.  I merely want to please the One who died for me.

My mother and grandparents were instrumental in fostering a love for Jesus from my early days.  Our family attended church sporadically, partly because being a military family, we moved a lot.  The other reason is we kids hated to go, successfully talking our mother out of going.  It was tough being the “new kid” who didn’t know anybody.

I accepted the Lord in 1969, and was baptized that December in a Southern Baptist church.  As a young teen I knew I had crossed a line I couldn’t take back.  I was a little scared, wondering what my decision would mean.  I waited to find out.  When I turned eighteen I purposed in my heart to go to church regularly, and so I did.  I found it difficult to understand what was being discussed, so decided to help out in the children’s four year old Sunday School class, hoping to pick up what I had missed.

In 1975, I married my husband, also a military man, after meeting him at my church.  The Lord knew I needed a spiritual mentor.  I am grateful.  It was a whirlwind courtship and then we were off.  One of the highlights of our first year together was participating as counselors in the Billy Graham Crusade in our area.  Through the counseling training program, I began to understand the basics of salvation and how it all came together.  Discipleship was the key I had missed.  From then on, I became an avid Bible reader.

Later we adopted two wonderful sons and today are grandparents.  During our parenting days, I began to seek a ministry I could do at home while homeschooling our sons.  I settled on writing a newsletter online that I call Words of Encouragement.  Now that the boys are grown, I have branched out into freelance writing, while continuing my writing ministry.  My work has been published in Christian and secular publications.  I have self-published a booklet called “Homeschooling:  The Modern Day One Room Schoolhouse” to help beginning homeschoolers get started on their homeschool journey.

The Lord has brought many service opportunities my way, for which I am truly thankful. Each has challenged and grown me spiritually and served to draw me near to my Lord.  I have served as a Sunday School teacher, Ladies’ Bible Study teacher, Church staff member, Deaconess, Church Outreach Director, Church Administrator, Crisis Pregnancy Counselor, and Evangelism Explosion Trainer.  A highlight of my life was receiving my college degree at age fifty-one.  I am truly blessed!

I am delighted to have the opportunity to share devotional thoughts the Lord has placed on my heart with Devotional Christian readers.  Sharing what the Lord is teaching me is a privilege and a responsibility.  I pray that the Lord will enable me to use my writing to encourage and exhort each of you to righteousness and a closer relationship with Jesus.

Let’s learn and grow together!  -  Linda

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I became a Christian at the tender age of 5 and my faith has been everything to me in my life. I live, breathe, love, and write based on what I believe.

I’ve always had a heart for ministry. Even at a young age I wanted to help others and would volunteer at nursing homes, try to help people solve their problems, and was in many clubs etc that helped others.  It wasn’t until after high school that I truly started to grow a love for writing and not until after I became a mom; did God merge my love for writing, my love for others, and my love for Him! There is truly no greater joy than to know you impacted someone else’s life in a positive way or encouraged them somehow.

Now I use my desire to encourage and impact others by being  the Founder of EmphasisOnMoms.com and sharing my walk of faith on my blog -  ”Beauty in the Storm.” In addition, I freelance write. 

In the last few years, God has taken my husband’s love for travel and missions and added that to my heart and life as well. I love traveling with him and taking our two girls – ages 11 and 14 along. We have great fun together and they are my favorite people to be around. I’m also involved in our church as a Mentor Mom for new moms, leading a ladies Bible Study group (when I’m not taking my daughter to and from volleyball practices & games) and am on the missions team.

My devotions and articles here at “Devotional Christian” will be aimed at encouraging you in your faith by sharing what God is speaking to my own heart. I hope you’ll feel less alone on this journey in life and that God will use my words to motivate and love on you in just the way you need it at the moment.

Thanks so much for having me.

~ Dionna Sanchez

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After I was saved in 1976, I kept the painting.  It is symbolic of where I was before Jesus came into my life.  When I received His grace, I was able to put my past behind me.  Not so far out of mind that I could not recall from whence I came, but far enough to know it was behind me.  In Jesus I walk in the newness of life–forgiven.  He walks with me through the shadows of death.  In those shadows, I seek to die daily to the self I once held in highest regard.  I want to live for Him.  Many times in the past quarter of a century I have failed.  But as many times as I have failed, He has forgiven, restored, and renewed.  That is what makes loving Him so incomprehensible.  His love is beyond any picture I could paint, or any words I could write to describe.

As a 7-year-old child I was baptized in a Southern Baptist Church in Triangle, Virginia, believing Jesus saved me.  I attended that church from the time I was a toddler until I was a teenager.  Since becoming a child of God in 1976, I have served in Southern Baptist churches as a children’s teacher, youth teacher and director, Women’s Missions Director, Children’s Worship Coordinator, Minister’s Wife, and writer.  I began writing professionally in 1981 after studying many writing books from the Meade County Library in Kentucky while my husband was ministering in his first pastorate.  I took some writing classes at Boyce Bible School in Louisville.  My first article, ”Second Miracle”, was published in Decision Magazine.  I can barely remember a time when I haven’t wanted to express myself through writing.  Other publications: Home Life Magazine, Living with Children, Living with Teenagers, Upper Room, Daily Meditation, The Crier (my own conservative newspaper).  Today I write a weekly newspaper column in The County Times here in Comanche County, Oklahoma entitled Common Matters.  I’ve written devotionals online since discovering blogging as a venue in 2006.  Devotional writing is my passion and calling as a writer.  It’s my hope and desire to write scripturally based thoughts that convey comfort, encouragement and edification.  I lay no claim to expertise in theology or doctrine–just the sealed life through the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit.

I draw from a well of life experiences that include joys of marriage, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and dear, dear friends, brothers and sisters in Christ.  I’ve known betrayal and neglect: abandoned by a mother at the age of 3, emotionally and physically abused by a step-mother, and molested by others.  Through the loss of children through miscarriage, one premature child who lived a day, and a 33-year old son who tragically died on Mother’s Day 2005, I am acquainted with grief.  Yet, through it all, I have found the healing grace, and peace of God through Jesus Christ.  This is why I write…to share Christ and His power.  To share how the Holy Spirit guides, comforts and teaches me.  To give honor and glory to God the Father and praise Him for all He allows me to do in His name.  It is my prayer that when you read my work, you find words worth reading that bring you closer to our Lord and greater understanding of God’s steadfast love.  Some of the greatest passages for me have been, Philippians 1:6, Proverbs 3:5,6  So trust God, lean not to your understanding, or abilities, but always acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths as He continually works to complete you. 

© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011

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I first felt God’s calling when I was in high school. I was, and sometimes still am, completely uncomfortable with the idea because I’m not the greatest speaker, I’m very self-conscious and I wonder, why, out of all the people in the world, would He use me? Although I wrestled with the idea that God could use me or that I was capable of ministering to students, God pursued me. He kept reminding me that He is constantly preparing me for the path He has set before me and that I’m not the finish product of the creation He designed me to be.

It has been about 10 years since I first felt my calling to youth ministry and God has indeed changed me. While the idea of standing in front of a crowd of any size once caused my legs to get weak, it now doesn’t bother me. Weekly I stand before a group of 30+ students and lead them through a lesson. Every once in awhile I’m able to preach for the Wednesday night service which is for 120+ students and I am completely comfortable. God has taken the fear that once was inside of me and replaced it with confidence that He created me just as I am for a purpose.

The Bible is full of ordinary people being used by God. Page after page is filled with people with handicaps, speech problems and people who wrestled with sin that God used. God chose to use the people that everyone least suspected and He does the same today. Don’t think for one second that He cannot use you, because He is using us in ways right now that we won’t realize until we stand face to face with Him.

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Thanks to everyone who entered the contest and helped spread the word about our site re-launch. Watch for more contests in the next few weeks.

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The giveaway is now closed. I will have other promotions for our regular readers later in the year.

The Ultimate Reading List for Devotional Christians

1. Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions, Leather Gift Edition by Bennett, Arthur G.
2. Morning by Morning and Evening by Evening: A New Edition of the Classic Devotional Based on the ESV Bible (SET)
3. Holiness Day by Day: Transformational Thoughts for Your Spiritual Journey (Hardcover) by Bridges, Jerry
4. Knowing God Devotional Journal: 365 Daily Readings (Paperback) by Packer, J. I.
5. Daily Light on the Daily Path: Devotional Book for Every Morning and Evening by Crossway Books
6. Golden Treasury of Puritan Devotion: Selections from the Writings of 13 Puritan by Di Gangi, Mariano
7. Faith Alone: A Daily Devotional (Hardcover) by Luther, Martin
8. Search the Scriptures: A Three Year Daily Devotional Guide to the Whole Bible
9. Day by Day with the Early Church Fathers (Hardcover) by Hudson, Christopher D.
10. Teach Us to Pray: 365 Prayers from the Bible (Paperback) by Beals, Timothy J.
11. Counterfeit Gods: The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters (Hardcover) by Keller, Timothy
12. The Fruitful Life: The Overflow of God’s Love Through You (Paperback) by Bridges, Jerry
13. In Christ Alone: Reflections on the Heart of the Gospel (Hardcover) by Sinclair Ferguson.
14. The Loveliness of Christ (Soft Gift Edition) by Rutherford, Samuel (foreword by Sinclair Ferguson)
15. The Hope of Glory: 100 Daily Meditations on Colossians (Paperback) by Storms, C. Samuel
16. Lord and His Prayer by Wright, N. T.
17. Taste and See : Savoring the Supremacy of God in All of Life by Piper, John
18. Practice of Godliness by Kuyper, Abraham
19. Pursuit of God: The Human Thirst for the Divine by Tozer, A. W.
20. Confessions by Augustine
21. A Year with C. S. Lewis: Daily Readings from His Classic Works (Hardcover)
22. Cost of Discipleship by Bonhoeffer, Dietrich

Note: The books will come from my favorite Christian Bookstore – WTS Books because they always send me free stuff (and have great customer service).

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Over the next few weeks, Devotional Christian will re-launch and become a leading online provider of original Bible devotions. This new approach will serve fellow believers and help them grow spiritually.  I will use the same blogging tactics that made Ministry-To-Children the leading blog in its topical niche. Devotional Christian has an even greater potential for success over time.

To make this happen, I am seeking four devotional writers.

Expectations

• Writers will contribute two original 250+ word devotions each week.
• Posts will address spiritual or practical needs, and then demonstrate God’s provision through Jesus.
• Writers will enter their posts directly into WordPress. I will review and post them as needed.
• Qualified writers will be spiritual leaders in their church community.

Benefits

• Your content will reach thousands of readers each month.
• Writers can include one back-linked signature line in each post.
• Writers will have their own “page” on the site that features their writings.
• I will compensate writers per-post with books from WTSbooks.com. As the site revenue grows, I will offer some writers pay-per-post agreements.

Join The Waiting List

Because of the strong response, I’ve already closed down the initial round of applications. I’ve contacted several strong candidates to request writing samples. We will be looking to add another round of writers in January. If you would like to get on the waiting list, complete this application form.

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