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Epiphany - A Day Late!


Epiphany was January 6th, and I'm a day late, but was traveling yesterday, so forgive me for not getting this on time.

We’ve come to the end of the 12 days of Christmas.  Epiphany is the appearance of the Wise Men, the Magi, who came from the East to find the “King, born of the Jews”.  
Each of the days between Christmas and Epiphany celebrated an aspect of our faith.  And now, the twelfth day arrived.
“On the Twelfth Day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Twelve Drummers Drumming”

What did it stand for?  The twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles Creed:
1) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 2) I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 3) He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. 4) He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. 5) On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 6) He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 7) I believe in the Holy Spirit, 8) the holy catholic Church, 9) the communion of saints, 10) the forgiveness of sins, 11) the resurrection of the body, 12) and life everlasting.

There you have it...twelve days for twelve significant aspects of our faith.

There are certain advantages to knowing these 12 aspects of our faith.
Most Christians know Jesus – the Partridge who is willing to die for it’s children.
And, they know there are two Testaments (Covenants) in the Old and the New. (Two Turtledoves)
Three Essential Christ-like character: Faith, Hope Love (three French Hens)
Four Gospels (Four Colly Birds)
Five Books of Moses (Five Golden Rings)
Six days of Creation (Six Geese-a-laying)
Seven Gifts of the Spirit (Seven Swans-a-Swimming)
Eight Beatitudes Jesus Spoke (Eights maids-a-milking)
Nine Fruit of the Spirit (Nine Ladies Dancing)
Ten Commandments from God (Ten Lords-a-leaping)
Eleven Faithful Disciples (Eleven Pipers Piping)
And NOW,
Twelve Doctrinal Statements in the Apostle’s Creed (Twelve Drummers Drumming)

The key is, can you/I say what each of them are from memory?  What if we took the time to actually memorize what each of them were?  Some are easy (the first 5 I think), and some will take some work (six thru 12), but they are worth it.
Thanks for journeying with me through these twelve days.

Peace

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