12 Names Of CHRIST-mas

An Example of The

12 Names Of Christ

 Used With A Gift. 

1. Emmanuel
2. Bread of Life
3. Prince of Peace
4. Redeemer
5. Shepherd
6. King of Kings 
7. Lamb Of God
8. Living Water
9. The Light
10. Lord Of Lords
11. Mediator
12. King of Israel

#1 Christ Is Emmanuel - Mathew 1:23

 Give your favorite version of The Christmas Story.

#2  Christ Is The Bread Of Life - John 1:23 

Christ is the Bread of Life. With Him in our lives, we will always be spiritually fed and taken care of. Give a Bread Mix or a loaf of Bread from your favorite bakery. If you have lots of time, make your own mini loaves!

#3  Christ Is The Prince Of Peace - Isiah 9:6 

Christ is the Prince of Peace because He is the only one that can provide true, lasting peace. For this gift, Reeses’ Pieces for the win

#4 Christ Is Our Redeemer - Job 19:25

Since Christ is our Redeemer who has washed away our sins through His Atonement, give some Hand Soap! You can usually find really good sales around the holidays.

#5 Christ Is Our Shepherd - Shepherd 10:11

Christ is the ultimate Shepherd of his sheep, who are US! He cares for each one of us individually. Shepherds use crooks, so give Candy Canes to represent His crook.

#6  Christ Is The King Of Kings - Revelation 17:14

Christ is our King and a crown represents a King best. Have you ever popped Jiffy Popcorn before? This packages makes a crown when you pop it. Cool and fun, huh?

READ MORE ....

Also see another version of the Sweet & Simple 12 Days of Christmas- with most gifts being found at the grocery or dollar store!  
Adapted From Sofestive * The Proverbs31 Mama

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12 Scripture, Poem and Hymn

DECEMBER

Scripture: Isaiah 9:6

Poem: Christmas Bells

Hymn: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

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The ‘S’ Elf

The ‘S’ Elf

In early days of Christmas land

Young Santa’s only aid

Was one, small elf who did the chore

Made toys, but seldom played.

So smart, so swift, so spry was he,

So speedy he became,

So skilled, so spirited with smiles,

That ‘S’ was soon his name.

Then as one Christmas Eve drew nigh

And ‘S’ checked Santa’s list,

He matched each name with gifts he’d made

To see no one was missed.

Both climbed atop the shiny sleigh

Then flew o’er lands and seas.

And one by one all gifts were placed

In stockings and by trees.

And as their journey neared the end,

Their list one name contained.

They searched the sleigh and sacks for trees,

But not a gift remained.

Young Santa soon grew quite perplexed

With nothing to impart.

He knew a lady yet not served

And sorrow filled his heart.

A once-strong woman full of love

In action, thought and deed,

But recent tragedies and pain

Had left her much in need.

As they approached her dwelling place

In barren, desert land,

Young Santa turned to ‘S;’ and said,

"I hope you’ll understand."

Then Santa gave her all ‘twas left,

Concluding to himself,

"The greatest gift at any time

Is when you give your ‘S’ elf!"

- Author Unkown

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Grant Me Strength

~* Lord, Grant Me Strength *~

Grant me strength, Dear Lord, I pray,

Control my life, don't let me stray.

When I feel angered, help me see,

That I can place my trust in Thee.



When I feel I'm sinking low,

Hold me, Lord, don't let go.

Don't let Satan have his way,

For I know he'd lead me astray.



Make me strong when I feel weak,

Let my ears listen when You speak.

Let not my faith diminish in Thee,

But save my soul and set me free.



Forgive me when I start to doubt

What faith and trust are all about.

Hold me Lord, in the darkest night,

Take away my fear and fright.



May Your voice be one, I always hear,

Saying to me, "I'm always near".

"I'll walk with you and guide you well,

But you My child, must not rebel".



Lord, I love you, forgive my fears,

Please dry my eyes from all these tears.

May I always place my trust in You,

Remembering, Lord, You've always been true.

Author: Ruth Ann Mahaffey ©Copyright 2002

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Jesse Tree Scriptures

JESSE TREE SCRIPTURES (The symbols are only suggestions)

Jesse Trees are used as a kind of Advent Calendar. You can use a normal Christmas tree, A twig with branches or a banner in the shape of a tree. Each day through Advent (or sometimes just on the four Sundays of advent) a special decoration or ornament, that tells a story from the Bible, is hung on the tree.

December 1 Creation: Gen. 1:1-31; 2:1-4 Symbols: sun, moon, stars, animals, earth

December 2 Adam and Eve: Gen. 2:7-9, 18-24 Symbols: tree, man, woman

December 3 Fall of Man: Gen. 3:1-7 and 23-24 Symbols: tree, serpent, apple with bite

December 4 Noah: Gen. 6:5-8, 13-22; 7:17, 23, 24; 8:1, 6-22 Symbols: ark, animals, dove, rainbow

December 5 Abraham: Gen. 12:1-3 Symbols: torch, sword, mountain

December 6 Isaac: Gen. 22:1-14
 Symbols: bundle of wood, altar, ram in bush

December 7 Jacob: Gen. 25:1-34; 28:10-15 Symbols: kettle, ladder

December 8 Joseph: Gen. 37:23-28; 45:3-15 Symbols: bucket, well, silver coins, tunic

December 9 Moses: Ex. 2:1-10 Symbols: baby in basket, river and rushes

December 10 Samuel: 1 Sam. 3:1-18 Symbols: lamp, temple

December 11 Jesse: 1 Sam. 16:1-13 Symbols: crimson robe, shepherd's staff

December 12 David: 1 Sam. 17:12-51 Symbols: slingshot, 6-pointed star

December 13 Solomon: 1 Kings 3:5-14, 16-28 Symbols: scales of justice, temple, two babies and sword

December 14 Joseph: Matt. 1:18-25 Symbols: hammer, saw, chisel, angle

December 15 Mary: Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38 Symbols: lily, crown of stars, pierced heart

December 16 John the Baptist: Mark 1:1-8 Symbols: shell with water, river

On December 17, the Church begins to intensify the preparation for Christmas with the use of the "O" Antiphons during the Liturgy of the Hours. The symbols for the Jesse Tree from December 17 to 23 are based on the "O" Antiphons.

December 17 Jesus is Wisdom: Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus in old Bibles) 24:2; Wisdom 8:1 Symbols: oil lamp, open book

December 18 Jesus is Lord: Ex. 3:2; 20:1 Symbols: burning bush, stone tablets

December 19 Jesus is Flower of Jesse: Isaiah 11:1-3 Symbols: flower, plant with flower

December 20 Jesus is Key of David: Isaiah 22:22 Symbols: key, broken chains

December 21 Jesus is the Radiant Dawn: Psalm 19:6-7 (in older Bibles this will be Psalm 18) Symbols:sun rising or high in sky

December 22 Jesus is King of the Gentiles: Psalm 2:7-8; Ephesians 2:14-20 Symbols: crown, scepter

December 23 Jesus is Emmanuel: Isaiah 7:14; 33:22 Symbols: tablets of stone, chalice and host

December 24 Jesus is Light of the World: John 1:1-14 Symbols: candle, flame, sun

- Jesse Tree Kit, A by Betsy Walter, Pauline Books and Media, Boston, MA, 1983

- Caryn Talty, at Organic Living for a Healthy Family, has created 26 excellent ornaments which she graciously offers free – both full color and black and white.

Sources: catholicculture.org

The Jesse Tree: 1st Week of Advent



The Jesse Tree: 2nd Week of Advent



The Jesse Tree: 3rd Week of Advent



The Jesse Tree: 4th Week of Advent

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11 Scripture-Poem-Hymn

NOVEMBER

Scripture: Psalm 100

Poem: Come Ye Thankful People Come

Hymn: Count Your Blessings

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Verse-Oct28

It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High. - Psalm 92:1 

A Christian's Halloween

A CHRISTIAN's  LOOK  AT HALLOWEEN

You'll Never Look At Halloween In Quite The Same Way Again

Some Poems and Stories For Your Halloween

I Am A Jack-O-Lantern -  Christian Pumpkins - If I Came....

The name "Halloween" comes from the days chronological proximity to Christian All Saint's Day, also known as AllHallows. It is on this first of November day that the feast of Hallowmas was observed. Pope Gregory IV (died 844) may have authorized the AllHallows date to intentionally subvert the pagan celebration of October 31.

I am a Jack O' Lantern,
My light will shine so bright,
For I am a Christian pumpkin,
My symbols tell what's right.

My nose is like the cross,
On which our Savior died,
To set us free from sin,
We need no longer hide.

My mouth is like a fish,
The whole wide world to show,
That Christians live in this house,
And love their Savior so!

The story starts at Christmas,
My eyes are like the star,
That shone on Baby Jesus,
And wise men saw from far,

My color it is orange,
Just like the big bright sun,
That rose on Easter Day,
Along with God's own Son.

And so on Halloween,
Let's set our pumpkins out,
And tell the trick or treaters,
What God's love is all about!

Author: Unknown

If I Came...

If Jesus came to visit,
And on Halloween we'd meet,
I've often pictured Jesus,
With the children on the street,He'd walk along beside them,
His mission would be clear,
His shining light would surely,
Make the darkness disappear.

He'd walk to every home,
There'd be nail marks in each hand,
And patiently He'd knock,
At the door is where He'd stand.

He'd be pouring out His love,
So everyone could see,
That Halloween for Jesus
Is an opportunity.

No matter how you celebrate,
His light can surely shine,
If your in the street or out,
Anywhere will be just fine.
So, however you decide,
To spend your time this holiday,
I hope that you will shine His light,
And let Him lead the way.
Copyright© by Debby Orstad

 

CHRISTIAN PUMPKINS

A small child had recently been baptized.  
       One of her classmates asked her what it was like to be a Christian. 
 She was caught off guard and didn't know how to answer 
when she looked up and saw a jack-o-lantern on the desk. 
 She answered, "It's like being a pumpkin". 
 
 Her classmate asked her to explain that! 

  "Well, God picks you from the patch
 and brings you in and washes off all the dirt on the outside
 that you got from being around all the other pumpkins. 
 
 Then he cuts off the top
 and takes all the yucky stuff out from inside. 
 He removes all the seeds of doubt, hate, greed,
 and all those other bad things. 
 
 Then he carves you a new smiley face 
and puts his light inside of you to shine for all to see!
  It is our choice to either stay outside and rot on the vine
 or come inside and be something new and bright!" 

Author Unknown

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Verse-Oct01

"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much."
Luke 16:10

10 Scripture, Poem and Hymn

OCTOBER

Scripture: James 5:7-8

Poem: Autumn Fires

Hymn To God Be The Glory

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Verse-Sept30

"You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat."
Isaiah 25:4

Verse-Sept28

"The path of the righteous is like the morning sun; shining ever brighter till the full light of day."
Proverbs 4:18

God is like

"Know God, Know Peace; No God, No Peace"

"Click Start to Play"

Created @ Kizoa Movie-Video-Slideshow-Maker Also can be created at slideful.com

God-Like Slogans Continued

God is like VERIZON ... Can you hear him now? Good.

God is like FROSTED FLAKES ... He's Grreat!

God is like RED BULL .... He gives us wings

God is like VISA ... He's everywhere you want to be.

God is like BURGER KING … He lets us have it our way.

God is like SUBWAY ... Because with him you got it made.

God is like STATE FARM ... Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. 

God is like ALEVE ... He is All Day Strong. All Day Long.

God is like the U.S. ARMY ... He wants you to be all you can be.

God is like GENERAL ELECTRIC ... He lights your path. 

God is like MAXWELL HOUSE ... Good to the very last drop

God Is Like WALMART ... He has everything.

GOD is like ALLSTATE ... You're in good hands with Him.

gif animation created in google photos 

GOD is like A LION ...

  He is strong, powerful and mighty.

  He is The King.

God is like The U.S. POST OFFICE ...

  Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor ice

  will keep Him from His appointed destination. 

God is like A GPS DEVICE ...

He knows where I need to go,

the total distance of the trip,

and how long it is supposed to last. 

God Is Love...

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Verse-Sept17

"0 God, Fulfill the desires of my heart 

and work your will in my life."

1000 Marbles

1,000 Marbles
"A Little Something about Precious Time"
Written by Jeffrey Davis © 1999 All Rights Reserved
Reprinted with permission, for AngelicDreams4U.blogspot.com

"The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it's the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it's the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable.
A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the basement shack with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. What began as a typical Saturday morning, turned into one of those lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time. Let me tell you about it...
I turned the dial up into the phone portion of the band on my ham radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning swap net. Along the way, I came across an older sounding chap, with a tremendous signal and a golden voice. You know the kind, he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business. He was telling whoever he was talking with something about "a thousand marbles".
I was intrigued and stopped to listen to what he had to say. "Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet. Too bad you missed your daughter's dance recital."
He continued, "Let me tell you something Tom, something that has helped me keep a good perspective on my own priorities." And that's when he began to explain his theory of a "thousand marbles."
"You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about seventy-five years. I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years." "Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900 which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime.
Now stick with me Tom, I'm getting to the important part."
"It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail", he went on, "and by that time I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays. I got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy."

"So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I ended up having to visit three toy stores to round-up 1000 marbles. I took them home and put them inside of a large, clear plastic container right here in the shack next to my gear. Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrown it away."

"I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life. There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight."
"Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure if I make it until next Saturday then I have been given a little extra time. And the one thing we can all use is a little more time."
"It was nice to meet you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your family, and I hope to meet you again here on the band.
73 Old Man, this is K9NZQ, clear and going QRT, good morning!" You could have heard a pin drop on the band when this fellow signed off. I guess he gave us all a lot to think about. I had planned to work on the antenna that morning, and then I was going to meet up with a few hams to work on the next club newsletter. Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss. "C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast."
"What brought this on?" she asked with a smile.
"Oh, nothing special, it's just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. Hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out? I need to buy some marbles."

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Angels Among Us

In Memory Of My Father
Lyrics To The Song "Angels Among Us" By: Alabama - Video Auto- Starts Below

I was walkin'home from school
On a cold winter day,
Took a short cut through the woods
And I lost my way.

It was gettin' late, 

and I was scared and alone.
Then a kind old man took my hand,

 and led me home.

Mama couldn't see him,
But he was standing there,
And I knew in my heart
He was the answer to my prayer.

Oh, I believe there are
Angels Among Us,
Sent down to us from
somewhere up above.

They come to you and me
in our darkest hours

When life held troubled times
And had me down on my knees
There's always been someone
To come along and comfort me

A kind word from a stranger
To lend a helping hand
A phone call from a friend
Just to say I understand

Now ain't it kind of funny
At the dark end of the road
Someone light the way
 with just a single ray of hope.

Oh, I believe there are Angels Among Us,
Sent down to us from somewhere up above.
They come to you and me in our darkest hours
To show us how to live
To teach us how to give
To guide us with a light of love.

They wear so many faces,
Show up in the strangest places
And grace us with their mercies in our time of need.

Oh, I believe there are Angels Among Us,
Sent down to us from somewhere up above.
They come to you and me in our darkest hours
To show us how to live
To teach us how to give
To guide us with a light of love.

To guide us with a light of love

Songwriters: Don Goodman / Becky Hobbs

Angels Among Us lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Angels Among Us (Official Video) by Alabama on VEVO.

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Verse-Sept01

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

Hebrews 6:19

09 Scripture, Poem and Hymn

SEPTEMBER

Scripture: Matthew 9:37
Poem: End of Summer
Hymn: Bringing in the Sheaves
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Spiritual Vitamins

A-Z of Spiritual Vitamins, Verses and Scriptures

08 Scripture, Poem and Hymn

AUGUST

Scripture: Psalm 8
Poem: August by Celia Thaxter
Hymn: All Creatures of Our God and King
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07 Scripture, Poem and Hymn

JULY

Scripture: Galatians 5:1

Poem: Paul Revere’s Ride

Hymn: Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory

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Five Sponges

       There are five sponges laying on your kitchen counter. Each member of your family has been cleaning up different areas of your home, but all the sponges look the same. You are curious as to what was cleaned, but you can't tell by looking. They all look the same. So, what do you do?

       As you squeeze the first sponge you see that cola comes out, and you decide that someone cleaned the kitchen with that one. 

       Upon squeezing the second sponge, you find tub and tile cleaner. That one was used in the bathroom. 

       In the third sponge you find motor oil. Someone cleaned the garage. 

       In the fourth sponge, baby power puffs out. The baby's nursery was cleaned with that one.

       In the last sponge is floor wax. That was the one you used on the hall floor. As you lay the last one down, you look again at their similarity.

They all look the same until they are squeezed.

       Christians are the same!

       As life squeezes us, different things come out: anger, revenge, tears, remorse, greed, untruth, lust and finally, from one saint, pours forth the love of Christ. Just like the sponge, we can only squeeze out what is put in. Stay in the Word daily and be in continuous prayer so that when life puts the squeeze on you, Jesus, and Jesus alone will shine forth.


As you think upon this, ask yourself, if I was squeezed, would Jesus and Jesus alone shine forth?

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06 Scripture, Poem and Hymn

JUNE

Scripture: Psalm 23

Poem: The Swing, by Robert Louis Stevenson

Hymn: Great is Thy Faithfulness

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05 Scripture, Poem and Hymn

MAY

Scripture: Isaiah 40:8

Poem: Tulips, by V.W. Lachicotte

Hymn: Fairest Lord Jesus

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Jelly Bean Gospel - Prayer Revised

April 22 is National Jelly Bean Day

Jelly Bean Prayer –n– Jelly Bean Gospel
 are a way to share the gospel using the colors
 of the jelly beans not only for Easter but thru-out the year.

A bag of jelly beans, colorful and sweet.  A prayer, a promise... an Easter treat! 

ORANGE is for Heaven so bright (2 Samuel 22:13-14)	WHITE is for the cleansing from sin (Psalm 51:1-2)
YELLOW is for God's perfect light (Revelation 21:23)	GREEN is for our new life in Him (Colossians 1:10)
BLACK is for the sins we've made (Romans 3:23)	PINK is for His free gift to share (Matthew 28:19-20)
RED is for the blood He gave (Romans 3:25)	PURPLE is for the crowns we'll wear (2 Timothy 4:8)

   #JellyBeanPrayer #JellyBeanGospel #JellyBeanDay #JellyBeans #JellyBean #Easter #Prayer


Below is a revision of  "The Jelly Bean Prayer". 
For many years things black were associated with bad and things white were associated with good.  This unfortunately lead to hateful feelings towards people of color and feelings of inferiority and superiority.  I chose not to pass it on to the rainbow congregation where I serve a Risen Savior.

Prayerfully Yours, Lorelei Francis - 2001
Youth Director, Shiloh Baptist Church of Orlando

The NEW Jelly Bean Prayer

Red  is for the blood He gave,
Green  is for the grass He made,
Yellow  is for the sun so bright,
Orange  is for the edge of night.

Black , White ,  Brown ,  Yellow  and  Red
 are for the children He made
All of these colors receive the grace He gave,
Purple  is for the hour of sorrow,
Pink  is for the new tomorrow.

Give a bag full of jelly beans,
Colorful and sweet,
Tell them it's a Prayer....
It's a promise..
It's an Easter Treat!

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