Hidden Meaning: 12 Days of Christmas

One of my friends shared this with me! I thought it was really neat to see the hidden meanings behind such a famous song. You may have already seen this, but I thought I'd post just in case. I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas.

We had such a fabulous time with all sides of the family that we got to see. I ate way too much, but it was so delicious. May God bless your path in 2008. I think we are all in for many wonderful surprises, adventures and miracles! :) Enjoy!

This is from an e-mail:

The Origin of The Twelve Days of Christmas

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?

Today I found out, thanks to the Internet. 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.

1. The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
2. Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
3. Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
4. The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
5. The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
6. The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
7. Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit: Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
8. The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
9. Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
10. The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.
11. The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
12. The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

Iced and No Elecricity

Well, I was on a roll when starting my dedication of blogging, then life got in the way. First, I was overloaded with school projects that the teacher decided to plug in on dead week. Secondly, when I thought I had gotten my grasp on life...the ice storm hit.

We were without electricity from Sunday afternoon until yesterday at about 11:00 a.m. (Thursday). We were taken well care of by Michael's cousin Tiffanie and her husband Lance. We had such an awesome time trying to stay warm by the fireplace with hot water and no electricity at their house. It was quite an adventure, but I found myself not wanting it to end.

When our electric did come on, I was sad. I loved getting to have a slumber party at the Barto's. It has definitely brought us closer together. Other family members are still without electricity, but they are moving forward with hope. I thank God for giving us such an amazing family. I just pray that everyone can have what we get to experience...which I know there are many of you who are blessed as much as I and more.

Michael, my hubby, has been wonderful through all of this. I think he was feeling disappointed that he couldn't provide our own home as a warm solitude...yet I reminded him that he did follow through and was awesome in finding us an alternative spot to be warm and fed! He doesn't give himself enough credit...he's one of the greatest men I know. I'm so lucky!

I do hope that everyone is keeping warm. It;s amazing what can be taken for granted. I'm counting my blessings and sending praises up to our Father!

Things on Tuesday: Top Ten Predictions For 2008

This came in an e-mail from one of my close friends. I thought I'd share in light of the new year coming. I've been tossing around ideas for my daily blogging. Here's what I'm going to try to do for this next week: Things on Tuesday; Worship Wednesday; Thirteen Thursday; Food of the Week Friday; Soul Food Saturday; Service Notes Sunday and Music Monday. We'll see how it goes. Enjoy!

THE TOP TEN PREDICTIONS FOR 2008

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost.

God whispers in your soul and speaks to your mind. Sometimes when you don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at you.

It's your choice: Listen to the whisper, or wait for the brick.

Paintings of Life

This piece is something I wrote back in 2004. I ran across it today and thought I'd share. I hope you have a blessed week!

Ever think that the load God has given you is too heavy? Well, I have at several occasions in my life. I let the big picture swallow me without looking at the beauty that currently exists. See our paintings/life appear strange at times, yet a masterpiece is being painted as we speak.

I let my ignorance get in the way of the true view. That view is the key to speculating and deciphering what can not change…it exists in beautiful colors. These colors each represent a life experience full of happiness, sadness, joy, heartbreak, sweat, desire, passion, etc. When our painting/life has been lived…a magnificent piece of art is finalized for all to cherish and marvel for years to come.

A crazy thing that can happen, the best thing for you and me, is that we stop and enjoy each drop of color. We will never know for sure what color is next, where it will go and how it will mix with the previous painted strokes, yet it all will come together as time flies by.

God is more than talented. He gives us a taste for the love of art!!! He gives us explanation to every stroke, move, color choice and so forth. He is alert, yet we are not always. At least, I know I get lost in one section of my painting and forget the rest is being done right under my nose. I hate it when I miss out, yet He’s so gracious to catch me up!

No matter when we wake up to His work of art for our life, he guides us to take a step back and breathe. To be still and know that He has it planned out. It’s not our time to know it all! I’m so happy for the glimpses that I pay attention to when he catches my ear or eyes. SO wake up and pay attention!

The colors in your painting are mixed with bright and dark, yet it makes it all richer in color and worth so much more in the end!

Time Management/Life

I attended a Time Management In-service today. It was very informative and to the point. It's one of those personal development workshops that you know what you should be doing, yet you may not be doing it. I find myself in the category of being fairly organized, yet getting snowballed....then out of control...and then...eventually I finding my center again.

I'm finding that God is opening my eyes to life changes that are finally working out or coming into a beautiful bloom. It's always a blessing when I catch the miracles that God is making happen right before my eyes. Wounds are being healed in many areas.

I will say this though. My brother is dealing with a co-worker that committed suicide yesterday. It's very sad. My brother has been in a carpool with him for about a year. I got to talk to my brother tonight and could tell this has really gotten to him. There has only been a small number of times that I've seen my brother cry...and I could hear over the phone that he was hurting and crying.

He has reacted like many people do in this situation...going through the phase that you could have said something different, hung out with them more...you should have known something was going on. Problem is....prior to an attempt on ones life or a sudden death we're not expecting...happens so fast. Hind sights 20/20.

I will say this...I'm reminded that words that are said today...can't be taken back...and actions or non-actions can not be changed. I pray that I can have a mouth that doesn't react so quickly (because unfortunately that is a negative of mine...I'm starting to work on it though)...I just hope that I can remember that we really don't know how long each of us has in this life. Is all the time we spend in the negative worth it?

I want to be remembered as a caring heart, not a bitter one (which sadly I can say I've been in the bitter gutter more times than I'd like to admit). I pray for those in this world that get to a point they see no other way to get through their problems than through taking their life...for those that hurt by anyone in the world. I know we are all human...we don't always say the right thing....or react exactly how we should, but in the end...we have to take time...step back and see what's happening...and not let it fester more than it should....because whatever happens...it may be the last thing anyone remembers.

Getting Started

Okay, Aunt Tracy told me a long time ago that I should start one of these...so here I am. After reading a couple of people's entries I felt this would be a great place to get to know some people. I look forward to posting and reading thoughts.