What's On Your Christmas List

This is the time of year when Christmas lists are made, hints are dropped and commercials never seem to end. If you have kids or grandkids, they can’t wait to give you their lists of what they just can’t do without. But this is 2020 and for the first time, we will experience Christmas during a pandemic. How different the lists may be this year. What’s on your Christmas list?

If you’re having trouble figuring out what to put on your list, here are some suggestions sparked by the twelve gifts from the 12 Days of Christmas. Remember the song? Each day a special gift was given whose meaning was tied to Jesus. Which of these would be just what you need or what you need more of this Christmas?

1. Gift number one is a partridge in a pear tree. The partridge is Jesus, and is the only bird that will die to protect its young. This is the gift of salvation that is the greatest gift you could ever want or receive.

2. The second gift is two turtle doves. They represent the Old and the New Testaments. This gift is the complete story of God’s plan and what faith is. The doves represent His roadmap available to everyone. Do you need a Bible or need to read it more?

3. The third gift is three French hens who represent faith, hope and love. It encompasses 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter. Do you need unconditional, merciful love?

4. Gift number four is four calling birds. These birds represent the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Find out who Jesus really is.

5. The fifth gift is five gold rings, representing the first five books of the Old Testament known as the Torah or the Pentateuch. This gift is the great story of the beginning of man’s interaction with God. It has so many lessons that apply today.

6. Gift number six is six geese a-laying. This is the gift of creation and the six geese are the six days of creation. Take time to marvel at the power of God’s words.

7. The seventh gift is seven swans-a-swimming--the gifts of the Holy Spirit: serving, giving, prophecy, teaching, encouraging, leading and compassion. Which gift do you seek?

8. The eighth gift is eight maids a-milking. Milk maids, the lowest of the low, had the worst job ever. This gift represents the love of Jesus for all of us willing to receive His word and His grace. This gift is described in the Beatitudes. Which blessing do you need?

9. Gift number nine is nine ladies dancing. This gift is the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Lovely gifts to have. Which one do you need to work on?

10. The tenth gift is ten lords a-leaping, representing the 10 Commandments.

11. The eleventh gift is eleven pipers piping. These are the eleven disciples that carried out the message of the gospel. Do you need understanding? Just read the New Testament to hear them share that message.

12. The twelfth gift is twelve drummers drumming and it represents everything we believe about Jesus, the Gospel, baptism, resurrection and forgiveness of sin. My twist--it is the  gift we get to share with others. Who do you need to encourage and lift up?

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17

Prayer

For prayer, praise Him with the following scriptures and declarations.

1. You are my Creator — I praise you, God, because “You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you” (Nehemiah 9:6).

2. You are the only Lord — I praise you, God, because you are “the LORD, and there is no other; apart from [you] there is no God” (Isaiah 45:5).

3. You are the Almighty — I praise you, God, because “who is like you, LORD God Almighty? You, LORD, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you” (Psalm 89:8).

4. You are the Prince of Peace — I praise you, God, my “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
5. God whose nature is love — I praise you, God, because “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them” (1 John 4:16).

6. You are the triumphant — I praise you, God, “who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere” (2 Corinthians 2:14).

7. You are the faithful — I praise you, God, for you keep your covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love you and keep your commandments. (See Deuteronomy 7:9).
8. You our my refuge — I praise you, God, because my salvation and my honor depend on you, oh God; you are my mighty rock, my refuge. (See Psalm 62:7).

9. You are the performer of miracles — I praise you, God, for “you are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among all the peoples” (Psalm 77:14).

10. You are the deliverer — I praise you, God, for though I am poor and needy you are my help and my deliverer. (See Psalm 70:5).

AMEN!


Photo by Valentin Petkov on Unsplash