Sunday, January 4, 2025 - THE TWELFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

 

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Sunday, January 4, 2025 - Second-last daily blog.

NOTE: After eleven years of providing this daily blog, it is time for this retired pastor to also retire from this daily responsibility.

Suggested alternative...Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

Link'

https://www.lhm.org/dailydevotions/default.asp?date=20250104

THE TWELFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

 On the twelfth day of Christmas

     my true love sent to me:

Twelve Drummers Drumming (12 points of the Apostles’ Creed)

Eleven Pipers Piping (11 Faithful Disciples)

Ten Lords a Leaping (10 Commandments)

 Nine Ladies Dancing (9 Fruits of the Spirit)

 Eight Maids a-Milking (8 Beatitudes)

 Seven Swans a-Swimming (7 Gifts of the Spirit)

  Six Geese a-Laying (Six days of Creation)

 Five Golden Rings (The Pentateuch... 

       first 5 books of the Bible)

 Four Calling Birds (The 4 Gospels... Matthew,

      Mark, Luke and John)

 Three French Hens (The Holy Trinity... 

     Father, Son and Holy Spirit)

 Two Turtle Doves (The Old and New Testaments)

and a Partridge in a Pear Tree. (JESUS and His death on the cross)

Why 12 Drummers Drumming on the Twelfth Day of Christmas?

The 12 drummers are said to represent twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed.

• God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

• Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord...

• Conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary...

• Suffered... was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell.

• He rose again from the dead.

• He ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God and will come to judge.

• The Holy Spirit.

• The holy Christian church.

• The communion of saints.

• The forgiveness of sins.

• The resurrection of the body.

• The life everlasting.

Almighty God, thank You for the Twelve Days of Christmas and the lessons about the Christian faith revealed each day. May my celebration of the incarnation of Christ continue throughout the entire year. Thank You, Jesus, for coming to this earth with the mission of saving sinners like me.  Amen.

“See” you at the Communion rail this morning

Pastor David Paape

Saturday, January 4, 2025 - THE ELEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

 

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Saturday, January 4, 2025 - Day 4 (Through the Bible in a year reading for today: Joshua 12:8-13:8; Psalm 4; Acts 16:25-40)

THE ELEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

 On the eleventh day of Christmas

     my true love sent to me:

Eleven Pipers Piping (11 Faithful Disciples)

Ten Lords a Leaping (10 Commandments)

 Nine Ladies Dancing (9 Fruits of the Spirit)

 Eight Maids a-Milking (8 Beatitudes)

 Seven Swans a-Swimming (7 Gifts of the Spirit)

  Six Geese a-Laying (Six days of Creation)

 Five Golden Rings (The Pentateuch... 

       first 5 books of the Bible)

 Four Calling Birds (The 4 Gospels... Matthew,

      Mark, Luke and John)

 Three French Hens (The Holy Trinity... 

     Father, Son and Holy Spirit)

 Two Turtle Doves (The Old and New Testaments)

and a Partridge in a Pear Tree. (JESUS and His death on the cross)

The Eleven Pipers Piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples. 

1) Simon Peter, 

2) Andrew, 

3) James, 

4) John, 

5) Philip, 

6) Bartholomew, 

7) Matthew, 

8) Thomas, 

9) James bar Alphaeus, 

10) Simon the Zealot, and 

11) Judas bar James. 

The list does not include the twelfth disciple, Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus to the religious leaders and the Romans, nor does it include Matthias, the replacement for Judas. 

Dearest Lord Jesus, may I be faithful to You, just like the disciples. To this end, please give me a hunger to read and learn more from Your Word this year. Amen. 

“See” you in church tomorrow

Pastor David Paape

Friday, January 3, 2025 - THE TENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

 

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Friday, January 3, 2025 - Day 3 (Through the Bible in a year reading for today: Joshua 11:28-12:7; Psalm 3; Acts 16:11-24)

THE TENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

 On the tenth day of Christmas

     my true love sent to me:

Ten Lords a Leaping (10 Commandments)

 Nine Ladies Dancing (9 Fruits of the Spirit)

 Eight Maids a-Milking (8 Beatitudes)

 Seven Swans a-Swimming (7 Gifts of the Spirit)

  Six Geese a-Laying (Six days of Creation)

 Five Golden Rings (The Pentateuch... 

       first 5 books of the Bible)

 Four Calling Birds (The 4 Gospels... Matthew,

      Mark, Luke and John)

 Three French Hens (The Holy Trinity... 

     Father, Son and Holy Spirit)

 Two Turtle Doves (The Old and New Testaments)

and a Partridge in a Pear Tree. (JESUS and His death on the cross)

The Ten Lords a Leaping represent the Ten Commandments. 

 1. You shall have no other gods. 

 2. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. 

 3. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 

 4. Honor your father and your mother. 

 5. You shall not murder. 

 6. You shall not commit adultery. 

 7. You shall not steal. 

 8. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

 9. You shall not covet your neighbor's house.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant, or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. 

(Luther's Small Catechism, Concordia Publishing House)

The Law of God is good and wise

And sets His will before our eyes,

Shows us the way of righteousness,

And dooms to death when we transgress. 

Its light of holiness imparts

The knowledge of our sinful hearts

That we may see our lost estate

And seek escape before too late. 

To those who help in Christ have found

And would in works of love abound

It shows what deeds are His delight

And should be done as good and right. 

But those who scornfully disdain

God’s Law shall then in sin remain,

Its terror in their ear resounds

And keeps their wickedness in bounds. 

The Law is good; but since the fall

Its holiness condemns us all;

It dooms us for our sin to die

And has no power to justify. 

To Jesus we for refuge flee,

Who from the curse has set us free

And humbly worship at His throne,

Saved by His grace through faith alone. 

(Lutheran Service Book #579)

Heavenly Father, thank You for the Ten Commandments that show me my sins, show me Your way, and protect me as well. Thank You even more for Jesus, Your Son and my Savior. Amen.

Have a blessed New Year!

Pastor David Paape 

Thursday, January 2, 2025 - THE NINTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

 

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Thursday, January 2, 2025 - Day 2 (Through the Bible 

in a year reading for today: Judges 11:1-27; Psalm 2; Acts 15:36-16:10)

THE NINTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

 On the ninth day of Christmas

     my true love sent to me:

 Nine Ladies Dancing (9 Fruits of the Spirit)

 Eight Maids a-Milking (8 Beatitudes)

 Seven Swans a-Swimming (7 Gifts of the Spirit)

  Six Geese a-Laying (Six days of Creation)

 Five Golden Rings (The Pentateuch... 

       first 5 books of the Bible)

 Four Calling Birds (The 4 Gospels... Matthew,

      Mark, Luke and John)

 Three French Hens (The Holy Trinity... 

     Father, Son and Holy Spirit)

 Two Turtle Doves (The Old and New Testaments)

and a Partridge in a Pear Tree. (JESUS and His death on the cross)

Why ladies dancing on the Ninth Day of Christmas?

On this day we remember the nine fruits of the spirit found in Galatians 5:

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.   (Galatians 5:22-23)

This looks like a pretty good list of New Year’s resolutions. May you be blessed as you “work” at these by prayer, meditation on the Word, and by helping others in the name of the Lord. Above all, stay close to Jesus – repent and believe.

Dear Holy Spirit, please work in my life in this new year so that I may be blessed by the Lord. Please make my heart pure as I hunger and thirst after Your righteous ways. Above all, remind me of my sin and of my need for Jesus my Savior. Amen.

Pastor David Paape