Author: Amy

El Roi is a name that I resonate with, as I have often felt unseen in different times and areas in my life. To know that God sees me has given me strength in times when life was just tough. As I was reading back over the story today, I saw Sarai a little differently.

I saw a woman who was feeling unseen by God. A woman who knew the promise that God had made to Abram.  A promise that gave her hope. A promise that, as women, we may have felt when the timing didn’t go our way.

She was promised she would have a child, and here she is, still barren. She was impatient and felt like God had forgotten her.

So she did what we all do when we are tired of waiting on someone else to do what they are supposed to: we took matters into our own hands. And unlike us, when we took the trash out because “we have asked, POLITELY, THREE TIMES, and it still hasn’t been done,” so we just do it ourselves….. While we have a clean trash bag ready to collect the next mess, Sarai made a massive mess that she now has to deal with.

I can only imagine the heartache that Sarai felt when Hagar became pregnant. I am sure the attitude of Hagar changed, but I am also positive the perception of Sarai changed, and how she viewed Hagar. Hagar’s disrespect was only amplified by Sarai’s feelings of being “forgotten” by God.

When have you had a Sarai moment? When have you taken matters into your own hands and refused to be patient with God’s timing? How did that work out for you? Did you have an empty trash can, or did you have a new mess to clean up?

I pray you know that El Roi sees you. He sees you waiting, and praying, and even begging to be seen. He hears you calling on His promises, and He knows the inner corners of your heart where you are hiding.

He knows you, and He loves you.

Have a great day with Jesus!

Last week, we started our study learning about Elohim. I also challenged you to find out the meaning of your name and find a verse that ties to the characteristic of your name.

At first, I jumped on John 3:16, but yesterday we were at the celebration of life service for a very special man and influence in my life. At the end of the service, they played a recording of him when he had given a message on 1 Corinthians 13.  I heard the voice of a man that I admired and lived this verse well read out, “Love is patient, love is kind, love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice in injustice but rejoices whenever truth wins. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”

This challenged me as my name, Amy, means “love” or “beloved.” I found myself questioning whether I do those things well. 

Genesis 1:27 says that we are made in His image; He is our creator. Since God made us in his image, he has instilled in us creative power. What are your creative gifts?

I shared a link to find out what your spiritual gifts are. 

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 says: 

“A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person, the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another, the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.”

What are your gifts? Were you surprised by them? Do they challenge you?

My gifts are serving, teaching, and mercy giving.
“Acts of service” is my love language, so I wasn’t too surprised by that one. Mercy giving also wasn’t a surprise to me. Teaching, on the other hand, was a bit of a surprise. This one is a challenge to me. Obviously, I want to make sure everything I am teaching you all is truth and I want to inspire and encourage you all. But teaching is not my strength, at least not in my eyes.

What do you think it means to be created in the image of God?

Did you use the name of Elohim in your prayers this week? If so, how did it feel? Did you feel a stronger connection to God?

This week, we are studying the name El Roi. (Raw-EE)  El Roi is the only name given to God by a woman. It appears in Genesis 16 in the story of Abram, Sarai, and Hagar.  In this story, we see where Sarai gets desperate to have a child. She is barren at this point, and she knows the promise that God made to Abram, that he will be the father of many nations. Since she hasn’t been able to get pregnant, she decides to take matters into her own hands. 

Hagar was an Egyptian maidservant. The assumption is that Hagar was one of the servants that Pharaoh gave to Abram in chapter 12. Her name, Hagar, is a Hebrew name that means “stranger” or “sojourner.” So it is probable that Abram or Sarai gave her the name, or it came from someone in his household.

The custom of the time was that if a woman could not get pregnant, she would offer her maidservant to her husband to sleep with. A servant was considered property, a possession that the wife could use when she wanted, how she wanted. And the fruits of the maid’s labor were considered those of the wife. So any child that Hagar had would belong to Sarai. 

Now, after Hagar became pregnant, she started treating Sarai badly. Or perhaps Abram looked at her differently; we really aren’t sure. What we know is that Sarai was no longer happy with the arrangement that she instigated. So Sarai mistreated Hagar so badly that Hagar ran away. 

While in the wilderness, Hagar was confronted by the Angel of the Lord. (16:7)  He says, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you come from and where are you going?”

The language used here is important to note: “Hagar, Sarai’s servant,” as this shows that he knows who she is and to whom she belongs, that she was the “property” of another.

The angel listened to her and told her that she was with child and that she needed to go back to Abram and Sarai. He also told her that she would be given many descendants. She was to name this son Ishmael, which means “God hears”, Yish-“he heard,” and El, “God”—because God has heard her affliction and her cries of distress.

At this point, Hagar names Yahweh, “You are El Roi” (Raw-EE), “for this is the place where I watched the one who watches over me.”

Another translation says, “You are the God who sees me.”

This is why the well is named Beer Lahai Roi (Raw-EE) (Well of the Living One Who Watches Over Me).

As a woman, there have been times in my life when I have felt overlooked or unseen, so the significance of this name is not lost on me. This is why it is one of my favorite names of God. As much as I love to be a fly on the wall or work in the background, it is nice to be noticed and appreciated, especially by the ones you love.

As we go into this week, learning about the one who watches over us, I want you to think about

• Like Hagar, is there a time in your life when you have felt “unseen”?

• El Roi (Raw-EE) doesn’t just see the physical us, but also our thoughts, emotions, and inner self. What part of you do you need El Roi to see right now?

• How does it make you feel knowing that God sees you? The past, present, and future you.

As we walk into this week, I hope you bask in the light of knowing that God sees you.

Have a great day with Jesus!

This week we have spent time learning about Elohim. The first name of God used in scripture in the opening line of Genesis.

As we end this first week, I want to thank all those who have commented and participated throughout the week. I know my ramblings aren’t always deep or prophetic, but I want you to know that I am on this journey with you. Please please please comment and post your ramblings as well, it’s how we will grow and learn together.

I leave you this week with four passages to read and then share how God is revealing himself to you. What characteristics of God or what are his promises here?

Have a great day with Jesus!

I hope you have had the chance to take the quiz and discover what your spiritual gifts are and reflect on them.

We have spent time this week studying Elohim and how we are made in his image. In Genesis 3, we see the story unfolding of how sin entered the world. The serpent tempts Eve, telling her she will be like God, knowing good and evil. She fell for it, gave it to Adam, and then we were all cursed with cramps, hard labor (both of the earth and birthing babies), and death.

(To this point, death had not entered the picture. Have you thought about that? Death wasn’t even on the table until they ate the fruit.)

What really stuck out to me, though, is in verse 8,

“In the cool of the evening, the man and his wife heard Yahweh Elohim WALKING around the garden. So they hid from Yahweh Elhohim.”

He was walking around the garden, not hidden from them, not unapproachable, not unattainable. HE WAS RIGHT THERE!

He addressed the sin, made them clothes, and then kicked them out lest they eat of the tree of eternal life.  After that, they had two boys, Cain and Abel. Cain killed Abel because Abel’s sacrifice was accepted, and his wasn’t. (Talk about a temper tantrum!)

Then, in chapter 5, it begins with a written account of Adam’s descendants. (Don’t yawn yet; it gets interesting.)

Vs. 1: “When Elohim created humans, he made them in the likeness of Elohim.”

Vs. 3. “When Adam was 130 years old, he became the father of a son IN HIS OWN LIKENESS, IN HIS OWN IMAGE. He named him Seth.”

So if Adam was made in the image of God, and Seth in the image of Adam……I’ll let you draw your own conclusions here.

But about 7 generations later, we see where Methuselah (the longest-living person in the Bible) had a son named Enoch.  What’s so special about Enoch? Scripture says this in verse 22. Enoch WALKED with Elohim for 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Enoch lived a total of 365 years. vs. 24 Enoch WALKED with Elohim, then he was gone because Elohim took him.

Can you imagine? “Hey y’all, I’m going for a walk; don’t wait up!”
Then you’re gone. Because you walked with God.

I am honing in on that today. How can I be more like God now that I am walking with him daily?

Have a great day with Jesus!

In one of my devotional books on the names of God, the author comments that we are like God in three ways. The mind of God, the character of God, and the fellowship of God.

In the mind of God, we are alike in that we have emotions. While God created all that was on the earth, our intellect is higher than that of the animals. We have the ability to feel emotion, to respond to love, to His love.

We connect to the character of God because he is holy and created us to be holy. Adam and Eve physically walked with God in the garden; the entrance of sin into the world took that ability away. However, we are able to walk with God through the Holy Spirit.

The fellowship of God exists with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is love, desires love, and longs for a relationship with us. We are made by him and for him. When God takes up residence in our hearts, he fills all the emptiness with his presence.

We have already read that God has made us in His image and he has imparted spiritual gifts upon us.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 says:

“A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person, the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another, the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.”

Each one of us is different and given a unique gift from our creator, Elohim.

So my challenge today is to discover what your spiritual gifts are. I am sharing the link to a free test. Come back and share what you learned about yourself!

What does it mean to be made in the image of God?

I had a moment with Elohim this morning as I was sucking wind (walking my dog) and taking in His creation. I was in awe of His creation, of His beauty, and of His handiwork.

I got a late start this morning, so my Bible study time was moved until after I got home. I have a daily worship devotional that I get that has a song and a short devotional thought. This morning’s scriptures are just too good not to share.

We are focusing on Elohim this week. One of my favorite verses is Genesis 1:27, “So Elohim created humans in HIS IMAGE. In the IMAGE of Elohim he created them.”  This verse makes me stop and think about how I am living into the image of God. If others are looking at me, are they seeing God?

In Psalm 8, David writes, “When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars you set in place, what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with GLORY and HONOR.”

Do you see that? WE are crowned with GLORY! Have you thought about that? I know I haven’t.

We are his workmanship. We are his.

2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord, who is the Spirit, makes us more and more LIKE HIM as we are CHANGED into his glorious image.”

As we are getting to know him, we are changing into His image to be more like him. How wonderful it would be if when others looked at us, they didn’t see “Amy,” but they saw God.

What if I lived into the characteristic of my name, “love,” so that others knew that when they came to me, they would be loved.

This is my God thought for the day.

Have a great day with Jesus!

I wanted to share a connection between the Old Testament and the New Testament this morning that I found in my study this morning.

Colossians 1:15-17 (NLT)

“Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation. For through him God (Elohim) created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see- such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.”

Paul in his letter to the church at Colosse gives us an insight into God, our Elohim. He reveals that God was. He was before creation ever came to be. He was the beginning and through him all things were made. And they were made FOR him and He is the one that holds it all together.

Knowing that I am a part of His creation and He made me FOR him, how can I glorify him today?

Where did you see Elohim today?

I am leading a class at church in a private Facebook group as we go through the Ann Spangler book, “Praying the Names of God for 52 Weeks.” You can click that link, purchase the book, and join us! I will share my thoughts as I go through this study. I am copying and pasting the same posts that I make in my Facebook group and what I share on Sunday mornings. This blog is just another avenue for someone to join me as I study the names of God.

Sunday’s lesson:

Thank you for joining me on this journey. First things first, I am not a teacher; I was not given that gene/talent. That is Braxton’s thing. I will probably, no, definitely mispronounce most of these names. However, I have studied the Names of God at different times over the last 10 years. It has become somewhat of a passion of mine. In fact, when Braxton and I first started dating, he and I did a names of God study together.  We got The Names of God Bibles, which places in the names of God in scripture instead of just “God.”  All that to say, I am not an expert in the names of God, but I am eager to learn and have studied them in the past.

As new and young mothers, I am sure most of us pored over a baby name book and looked up names and their meanings. We wanted to give our child a name that had purpose. Does anyone know what their name means…or pull your phone and look it up real quick if you don’t know.

My name, Amy, means “beloved” or “loved one,” and Beth, my middle name means “house/home”. So I am a “beloved house”… not sure how I need to live into that, but I will figure it out.

We live in an “OMG” society. The name of God gets thrown around like confetti, but it is not normally said in reverence. But what does the name of God mean? Google will tell you it means supreme, perfect creator, or ultimate being. But he has multiple names, and all his names stand for a unique characteristic.

Does anyone know the name of the God that they love? Or is there a name or characteristic you want to learn about?

While we all know God by the name of God, in scripture, God is known by his name and also by his characteristics. For example, when Hagar was in the desert running from Sarai in Genesis chapter 16, an angel of God appeared to her and told her that she was pregnant; she then said to God/Yahweh you are “El Roi”, the God who watches over me.” 

In Genesis 17, when God appeared to Abram to tell him of the promise that he would be the father of many nations, he said, “I am El Shadday,” God almighty. 

In Psalm 80, the psalmist cries out, “Open your ears, O Roeh of Israel.” Shepherd of Israel, 

Yahweh Elohim Tsebaoth, how long will you smolder in anger? (Lord God of Hosts).

In the New Testament, Jesus is called Yeshua, Iatros (ee-ah-tros) for physician, Artos Zoes (r-toss zo-es) for Bread of Life, and, as we just celebrated Christmas, Emmanuel, God with us.

These names are insights into who God is, his nature, and his character.

This week, we will start our study learning about Elohim. Elohim is used over 2,500 times in scripture and about 30 times in Genesis 1 alone. Elohim is our creator; he is mighty, powerful, and all-knowing, and he is our beginning and end. In Genesis 1, we are told how God created the earth and every living thing on the earth. In Genesis 1:26, Elohim said, “Let us make humans in our image, in our likeness.” This tells us that we are HIS Image Bearers. So as we learn more about God, we should learn about ourselves. This week, we aren’t just going to learn about Elohim, but we are going to learn to pray to Elohim. 

When we call on God’s specific name in prayer, we are tapping into that power. We are calling on that promise of God. He is allowing us to draw closer to him through his specific name.

I want to make a couple of challenges for you as you study this week. 

1. Learn the meaning of your name and find a scripture that ties to a characteristic of you and your name.
   For example, my name means loved, so I am leaning into John 3:16, “For God so LOVED.” How can I show love this week?

2. I want you to spend time with God, outside, in HIS creation. For me, I find it fulfilling when I can get out of “my world” and into His. I need to step outside of the four walls of my house, breathe in fresh air, listen to the birds chirp and dogs bark, feel the breeze as it blows, and know that God is all around me. I need to eliminate the visual “to-do” list and allow myself to sit in HIS presence. 

This book is not a daily study; it can be done in one day and probably less than 30 minutes. I would encourage you to do it at the beginning of the week so that you can pray the name you learned throughout the week. However, I will be posting throughout the week if you want more than a once a week reading.

Have a great day with Jesus!

During the Christmas season this year, my family started a couple of new traditions. One tradition was reading the Advent book from The Biggest Story every night after dinner. This book isn’t just the journey of Mary and Joseph to the manger. This book actually goes into the prophecies that were told about the coming of Jesus. It was probably a little deeper than my girls could handle, but we started it, and over the years, more and more will sink into their hearts.

A few years ago, we started a Shepherd on a search for a shepherd, where they look for a shepherd each morning instead of an elf. On Christmas morning, the shepherd is to be placed under the tree where he has found the manger, the true meaning of Christmas. This year, I started the search for Finding Jesus. Along with hiding Sammy, our shepherd, I hid Jesus for the girls to find. Jesus has a pocket where a puzzle piece fits, and each day we put the puzzle piece in the frame and read the corresponding verse. On the 24th, we put in the last piece to reveal the picture of the baby in the manger. The girls loved searching for Sammy and Jesus.

Now that Christmas Day has passed and we aren’t searching for anyone each morning or reading our Advent book each night, I started feeling the pull to continue our short devotional readings at dinner. A sweet friend shared a post on Facebook that stated that Christmas lasts until the day of Epiphany, which triggered a memory about the song The Twelve Days of Christmas. It’s been said that The 12 Days of Christmas was written to help teach others about God. A quick Google search will pull up a lot of different explanations, but I am going to share one that I found and how I have tweaked it in order to fit our family devotional.

On the first day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree.–Jesus Christ

Yesterday we celebrated the birth of Christ. He is our Partridge in a Pear Tree. There is only one partridge, and there is only one God. As a mother partridge protects her young, so does Christ protect humanity.

Scripture: John 3:16 (NLT) “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

Prayer: Father God, we thank you for the indescribable gift of your Son. May we live with the confidence in knowing that you love us enough to save us through your son.

On the second day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me, two turtle doves–The Old and New Testament

The Old and New Testaments are the two parts of the Bible. This is God’s love letter to his people. Through scripture, you see who God is, the character of God, his plan of salvation, and his love for his children. His promises are written in black and white, and when we call on his name and claim his promises, we grow closer to the Creator of the Universe, to our Elohim.

Scripture: Luke 24:25-27 (NLT) “Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory? Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”

Prayer: God, as we study your word from cover to cover, may we see your hand writing your love story for us. Give us understanding as we read and open our eyes to the message we need to hear.

On the third day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me, three French hens– Faith, Hope, Love

As we study God’s word, we see the themes running through Scripture: the themes of faith, hope, and love. The Bible stories we all know so well are filled with these themes. Stories like Moses and the Israelites, Abraham and Isaac, Daniel in the Lions Den, and David and Goliath. All are rich testimonies of God’s faithfulness, character, and plan.

Scripture—1 Corinthians 13:13 “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”

Prayer- Father God, we thank you for showing us just how much you love us through the stories in the Bible. May we grow in our faith in you, live in hope of your returning, and show your love to others.

On the fourth day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me, four calling birds—the Gospels

The first four books of the New Testament are called the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These four books tell of the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Gospels are also known as “Good News,” as Christians are called to “go and make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19), spreading the good news of Jesus and salvation.

Scripture-Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Prayer-Father God, thank you for your son, his life, death, and resurrection. Thank you for giving us a way to come to you and to be saved from our sins. Father, pour into us a spirit of boldness to confront the sin of the world and to spread the message of your word, our faith, and your salvation.

On the fifth day of Christmas my True Love gave to me, Five Golden Rings-First Five Books of the Bible (the Pentateuch).

The first five books of the Bible are called the Pentateuch. These books detail the creation, law, and early history of the world and of God’s plan. It is the plan where we are first exposed to God’s plan of redemption from sin and how sin first entered into the world. We learn that God is the beginning of all things and that it is his power that created the world. In these books, we also learn of his law, his compassion, and his covenant.

Scripture- Psalm 19:7-10, “The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.”

Prayer-Father God, we thank you for providing us with a history of the world, for teaching us your laws, and for sharing with us your covenant. As we study the first five books of the Bible, may we not only learn of your people but also of your grace and design. May we see the evidence of your plan and how it all points to Jesus from beginning to end.

On the sixth day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me, six geese a-laying–the six days of creation.

While we typically think of creation happening in seven days, God rested on the seventh, so the creation of the world happened in six days. This is a reminder of God’s perfect creation and provision. The geese a-laying represent new beginnings. Just as creation was a new beginning, God can give each of us a new beginning when we turn to him.

Scripture-Gensis 1:31 “Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!

Prayer- Father God, we thank you for your creation and for your gift of new beginnings. God we ask that you help us put to rest things that do not benefit your kingdom and give us a new start in glorifying you.

On the seventh day of Christmas my True Love gave to me, Seven Swans a-Swimming-Seven Gifts from the Holy Spirit

The gifts from the Holy Spirit include prophecy, serving others, teaching, encouraging others, giving, leadership, and showing kindness. When you are given these gifts, it is important that you use them; it is then that you are fulfilling God’s call on your life.

Scripture-Romans 12:6-8 “In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Prayer-Father God, I pray that we recognize the spiritual gifts that you have given each of us and that we use them to the best of our ability. May we live up to the calling you have placed on our lives and glorify you in all that we do.

On the eighth day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me eight maids a-milking.–the Beatitudes

The Beatitudes speak of character traits of being meek, humble, merciful, and of being a peacemaker. It is these characteristics that God says are blessed. When we lean into the blessed attributes, scripture tells us that our reward in heaven is great.

Scripture- Matthew 5:3-10:
“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied.
God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.
God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”

Prayer- Father God, help us to embrace the attributes that you spoke about in the Beatitudes. May we learn to be humble, merciful, and peace makers so that we may inherit the Kingdom of God.

On the ninth day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me, nine ladies dancing—fruits of the Spirit

The nine ladies dancing represent the core values of a Christian: the fruits of the Spirit. These gifts are virtues that develop over time as we grow in our faith, walk, and relationship with God. As we develop these values, we begin to become more Christ-like which is our ultimate goal.

Scripture- Galatians 5:22-23
“The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

Prayer- Father God, as we walk with you, help us to develop the fruit that the Holy Spirit gives us. Lord, we want to be more like you, and we know that through your gifts we can draw others to you.

On the tenth day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me, ten lords a-leaping-ten commandments.

The ten lords a-leaping represent the ten commandments. The Ten Commandments were the first ten “laws” that were written down for God’s people. These laws are God’s rules for a moral life. When we live within the laws of God, we can “leap” in joyful obedience, for God’s laws are not prohibitive. list, but a moral compass that leads us to Heaven.

Scripture-Exodus 20:2-17
“I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.
You must not have any other god but me.
You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected, even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.
You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.
Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day, no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
You must not murder.
You must not commit adultery.
You must not steal.
You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbors.”

Prayer- Father God, may we meditate on your laws day by day, record them on our hearts, and live within their boundaries. For your laws give us direction and lead us into a fulfilled life with you.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me, eleven pipers pipping-the eleven faithful apostles.

The eleven pipers piping represent the eleven faithful apostles. Yes, there were twelve, but Judas betrayed Jesus. The apostles were the unwavering followers of Jesus and worked to spread the Good News after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension.

Scripture-Romans 10:14-15
“But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news?”

Prayer- Father God, may we follow the example of your apostles and spread the Good News to all. Father, we ask that you put someone in our path who needs to know more about you. May we be good stewards of your message of hope and salvation.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me, twelve drummers drumming-represent the twelve points of belief in the Apostle’s Creed.

I believe in God the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, his Son our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
crucified, dead, and buried,
and on the third day he rose from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the **holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

Scripture-Isaiah 44:6
“This is what the Lord says- Israel’s King an dRedeemer, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: “I am the First and the Last; there is no other God.”

Prayer- Father God, may we be confident in proclaiming our belief in you, in who you are, and in what you can do. May we boldly share your message and plan of salvation. May our life be a testimony of your grace and mercy and draw others unto you.

(**refers to the universal body of believers of Jesus Christ that spans across time and place.)

The 12 days after Christmas will take us to the Day of Ephiphany which is the day the Wise Men came to baby Jesus and realized that he is the Son of God.