Tag: 12 Days of Christmas

Posted in Bible study, Christmas, From the Insideout, God is good, Know These Truths, Quiet Time

The 11th-Day of Christmas

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Day 11: Scripture – John 6:35 / Name of Jesus – Bread of Life / Ornament: Loaf of Bread

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

John 6:35

On this 11th-day of Christmas, I am reminded how God in His goodness provides not just for our physical needs but even greater – He has provided the Spiritual Bread of Life – Jesus Christ! The Manna from Heaven that feeds our souls and gives us life. The bread of God that comes down out of Heaven and gives life to the world. So today I celebrate this Eternal – Life-Giving – GIFT who has secured my Spiritual Health with His blood. “Regular food is only good until we become hungry again – But His Word truly satisfies our deepest needs.” It satisfies like nothing else can when we are craving peace or comfort, and It fills us up when our strength is gone. It enriches us when we need wisdom and direction, and It overflows with goodness when we need to be reminded of God’s love. God’s Word is alive and active and It GIVES Light to our path – illuminating the darkness around us. May we be reminded of It often throughout the days of our lives; and may It flow through us that others might taste and see Its goodness!

The More You Know

If you would like to know more about The Bread of Life please visit Know These Truths

Posted in Bible study, Christmas, From the Insideout, Know These Truths, Quiet Time

The 10th-Day of Christmas

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Originally posted January 4, 2020

Scripture – 1 Timothy 6:15; Name of Jesus – King of kings and Lord of lords; Ornament – Crown

Jesus may have come as a baby in a manger, but make no mistake – God gave us a King! The King of kings and Lord of lords best describes His power and majesty. He not only has the power to save but to rule over all the earth. God placed all nations and kingdoms under Him! So on this 10th Day of Christmas, I worship Him as my Savior but also my Lord and King. I praise the Father for sending us a gift that saved us from the Kingdom of Darkness and its evil ruler! Satan has been crushed under the heel of my King and Savior, Jesus! Satan no longer has dominion over me for Jesus is my KING!

Posted in Bible study, Christmas, From the Insideout, God is good, Know These Truths, Quiet Time

On The Ninth Day of Christmas

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Originally posted January 3, 2023

Scripture – John 10:11; Name of Jesus – The Good Shepherd; Ornament – Shepherd Staff

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Matthew 9:36

I love this picture that Scripture paints of our Savior. He saw me among the multitudes – and felt compassion for me – because I was distressed and downcast like a sheep without a shepherd. God in His goodness gave me Jesus, a shepherd to care for me and who willingly laid His life down for His sheep. I am so thankful for His rod and staff, they truly do comfort me. By them, I have known His protection and when I have strayed He has pulled me back to His path of righteousness. – Father, I am forever totally dependent on You and ever grateful for Your Gift of the Savior, my Good Shepherd.

Me – from the Insideout

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.

John 10:11
Posted in Bible study, Christmas, From the Insideout, God is good, Know These Truths, Quiet Time

On the Eighth-Day of Christmas

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Originally posted January 2, 2021

Jesus, the Lamb of God
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

John 1:29

On the Eighth-Day of Christmas, my ‘True Love’ gave to me … A Lamb to take away my sins. That’s right, in God’s goodness He provided the Perfect Lamb, the Spotless Lamb – Jesus Christ. He did this so that my sins and those of the world might be forgiven. A lamb isn’t powerful like a lion, but this Lamb had all the power of heaven – for His blood was pure. He was the perfect and complete sacrifice – sent by the Father as a free gift of salvation to a lost and dying people whom He loved.

Me – from the Insideout

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Romans 6:23

Father, I celebrate Your Gift of Jesus Christ as the Lamb sacrificed for my sins. I praise You for the gift of His blood that cleanses me and makes me white as snow.

The More You Know

The only hope we have of Heaven is Jesus. If you don’t know Him or have questions about salvation I would love to help you. I invite you to visit my link, Know These Truths or email me at mryelnb@aol.com and reference “know these truths”.

Posted in Bible study, Christmas, From the Insideout, Know These Truths, Quiet Time

The 7th-Day of Christmas

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Originally posted January 1, 2021

Scripture – Revelation 5:5; Name of Jesus – The Lion from the tribe of Judah; Ornament – Lion

On this 7th-day of Christmas, I celebrate God’s goodness through Jesus – the Lion of Judah! Born into the world as a human – in a manger bed – yet with all the power to rule over every other created being. And – like the lion, powerful enough to kill – yet showing the most tender love for those who belong to Him. Jesus, the Lion of Judah, is able to protect me from all other predators and deliver me safely to the Father – who continues to carry out His will/plan before us. For just as He promised that Jesus would come through the royal tribe of Judah, He also promised that He will come again to take us home – and we look forward with HOPE to that day.

Me – from the Insideout

 But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Revelation 5:5
Posted in Bible study, Christmas, From the Insideout, God is good, Know These Truths, Quiet Time

The 6th-Day of Christmas

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Originally posted December 31, 2020

Scripture – Revelation 22:16; Name of Jesus – The Bright Morning Star; Ornament – Star

Today, on this 6th-Day of Christmas I have unwrapped the “STAR”, an ornament that symbolizes God’s Gift of Jesus, The Bright Morning Star. He is God’s son, my Savior – begotten of God – not created – God in flesh – greater than any created being. He is more powerful than Satan or any ruler on earth – The Prince of Peace and the Giver of all true LIGHT. As the wise men followed the star to find the Baby Jesus, when I follow Christ, The Bright Morning Star, I will find the awe and “excitement, and the LIGHT of that perfect day when He will raise us up to live with Him in heaven to worship Him forever.”

Father, Thank You for Your Gift of The Bright Morning Star, who is Christ the Lord! Spirit, help me to keep my eyes on Him from here to eternity – where, like the wise men, I will bow down in worship of Him who no longer lies in a manger, or hangs on a cross, or remains in the tomb – but who sits at the right hand of Your throne in Heaven!

Me – from the Insideout

Posted in Bible study, Christmas, From the Insideout, God is good, Know These Truths, Quiet Time

The Fourth Day of Christmas

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Originally posted on December 29, 2020

Scripture: John 4:10; Name of Jesus – The Giver of Living Water; Ornament – Water jug

On this Fourth Day of Christmas, I am reminded of Jesus’ words to the woman at the well – where He revealed Himself to her as the Giver of Living Water. The living water He was referring to was the Holy Spirit, a gift from the Father to every believer. A gift, that was only available through Him. In John 7:38, Jesus says, ” Anyone who believes in Me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.” He wasn’t concerned about her physical need for water but rather her spiritual need for a Savior. Do you know someone who needs the Living Water? Introduce them to Jesus, The miracle Baby in the manger, the Door to God, the Life Giving Vine, and The Giver of Living Water. Read the story – John 4:1-42 NLT – Jesus and the Samaritan Woman – Jesus – Bible Gateway – the woman didn’t even know she was thirsty but once Jesus introduced her to the Living Water her life and the lives of countless others were changed forever.

Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

John 4:10
Posted in Bible study, Christmas, From the Insideout, God is good, Know These Truths, Quiet Time

The Third Day of Christmas

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Originally posted December 28, 2020

Scripture: John 15:5; Name of Jesus – The Vine; Ornament – Cluster of Grapes

On this third day of Christmas, I am reminded to celebrate Jesus, not just as an infant in the manger, but as The Vine who gives me LIFE. I know and have experienced that apart from Him I can do nothing, but by ‘abiding’ in Him – I will bear much fruit, be known as His “true Disciple”, and bring glory to the Father.

Jesus, the True Vine
 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.  Read More

John 15:1-8

The fruit we bear is unique to those who abide in Jesus, The Vine, because it is a product of His Spirit in us. His Life-Giving Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – Galatians 5:22-23. Abiding in Him changes us from the inside-out. We will look different, sound different, act different, respond differently, and think differently than the world. Abiding in Jesus, we will learn to live and grow to look more like Him – which is God’s ultimate goal for our life. The question is, “How do we stay connected to Him?” The answer – by faithfully spending time with Him in prayer and in His Word and living obediently to it. Abiding in Jesus may not always be easy – there will be hard choices and things we must give up in order to cling to the VINE but God has given us everything we need to live a godly life. Think of it this way – while John 5:5 teaches us that apart from Jesus “we can do nothing”, Paul teaches us that through Jesus “we can do all things”, Philippians 4:13. The struggles we face in this life are only truly surmountable when we are abiding in – or sometimes clinging to – The Vine – God’s gift of LIFE.

Me – From the Insideout

3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the one who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

2 Peter 1:3-4
The Importance of Bearing Fruit

Posted in Bible study, Christmas, From the Insideout, God is good, Know These Truths, Quiet Time

On the First Day of Christmas

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Introduction

Originally posted December 26, 2020

“Adornaments” It started as something I did with my children when they were growing up. The “adornaments” reading and ornament were a way to help them/us focus on the true meaning of Christmas amidst all the presents and lights of the seasons. Thirty plus years later and it is still a treasured part of our Christmas. For us, it has evolved through the years – from the 12 days leading up to Christmas to the 12 days after Christmas – leading to the Epiphany [əˈpifənē]1

  • 1The manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi (Matthew 2:1–12) and the celebration commemorating the Epiphany on January 6.

My hope is that by sharing these 12 adornaments over the next 12 days – together we can enter the new year with a fresh awareness of JESUS beyond the manger. Each day we will be focusing on a different name of Christ leading us to understand – or perhaps just reminding us – who He is and why we should truly adore Him not just at Christmas but throughout the year.

Me – from the Insideout 💕

Day 1: Scripture – Matthew 1:23; Name of Jesus – Immanuel; Ornament – Baby in a manger

On this first day of Christmas I remember God, my One True Love, from the depth of His goodness gave to me a Savior – who is Jesus Christ the Lord! Born as a baby in a manger – God in the flesh – He came to save His people from their sins.

21 And she will have a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through His prophet:
23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
    She will give birth to a son,
and they will call Him Immanuel,
    which means ‘God is with us.’”

Matthew 1:21-23

John 3:16 proclaims the reason for this gift was because – God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes Him would not perish but have everlasting life. Why such a lavish gift? Because God loves with an amazingly lavish love! He knew we were sinners, unable to keep the law, unable to save ourselves, and by His standards deserving of death. Yet, as with Barabbas we were set FREE and Christ was sent to the cross – crucified for the sins of the world – making a way for sinners to have a relationship and everlasting life with God – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

1 John 4:9-10