The 12 Gifts of Christmas

Angels We Have Heard on High

by Liz Curtis Higgs

The traditional season of Christmastide or Twelvetide begins on December 25, with daily festivities and gift giving, culminating in a feast on Epiphany, January 6.

Rather than partridges in pear trees and endless drummers drumming, here are twelve sacred gifts, dear to the hearts of those who celebrate Christ year ’round. I hope you’ll enjoy opening each one!

"We saw his star when it rose"

On the 1st day of Christmas our true love gave us LOVE: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us.” 1 John 3:1

On the 2nd day of Christmas our true love gave us HOPE: “For you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 25:5

On the 3rd day of Christmas our true love gave us WISDOM: “He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” Daniel 2:21

Bible Open to Isaiah 43

On the 4th day of Christmas our true love gave us JOY: “He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.” Job 8:21

On the 5th day of Christmas our true love gave us PEACE: “He promises peace to his people, his faithful servants.” Psalm 85:8

On the 6th day of Christmas our true love gave us STRENGTH: “He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak.” Isaiah 40:29

And the Angels Said "Ta-da!"

On the 7th day of Christmas our true love gave us GRACE: “His glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” Ephesians 1:6

On the 8th day of Christmas our true love gave us DIRECTION: “The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs.” Isaiah 58:11

On the 9th day of Christmas our true love gave us ASSURANCE: “We are his people, the sheep of his pasture,” Psalm 100:3

Shepherd in Israel

On the 10th day of Christmas our true love gave us FREEDOM: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” Galatians 5:1

On the 11th day of Christmas our true love gave us PROTECTION: “He will keep me safe in his dwelling.” Psalm 27:5

On the 12th day of Christmas our true love gave us ETERNITY: “He has also set eternity in the human heart.” Ecclesiastes 3:11

May the new year ahead bring you closer to the One who loves you most!

Your Sister in Christ, Liz Curtis Higgs

Your sister, Liz
@LizCurtisHiggs #12GiftsofChristmas

 

29 Responses to The 12 Gifts of Christmas

  1. Norma December 24, 2013 at 10:19 am #

    Thank you. You also are a gift.

  2. Carol Perry December 24, 2013 at 10:30 am #

    Merry Christmas to you and yours. I too am excited to celebrate His birth!

  3. Karen December 24, 2013 at 10:56 am #

    Blessings to you and yours, Liz, as we celebrate His joyous birth!

  4. Danie Walther December 24, 2013 at 11:21 am #

    Merry Merry Christmas! Today is my sisters Birthday! Today is a special day because she was born on His Birthday!
    oh.hello.hiya@gmail.com

  5. pauline maclean December 24, 2013 at 11:27 am #

    and the greatest of these is love.

  6. Christine December 24, 2013 at 11:28 am #

    Thank you so much for the wonderful insight you offer each week. You are a blessing! Can relate to still being in jamies as the work is completed.
    Merry Christmas to you and your family….

  7. Barbara December 24, 2013 at 11:58 am #

    Thanks Liz…. I appreciate you so much… have a blessed Christmas with your family gathered round!

  8. Rebecca Mahannah December 24, 2013 at 12:31 pm #

    Thank you Liz, for sharing this Christmas with us. May you and yours have a very blessed Christmas celebration. Love in Christ dear sister, Becky

  9. Sandra Beck December 24, 2013 at 1:00 pm #

    You have blessed us with so much..Thanks again.
    Merry Christmas and God Bless you and yours.

  10. MARY COLORES December 24, 2013 at 1:25 pm #

    Thank you for everything you have tought me and more to come. Thank you for these gifts, I will open each one carefully and following His teachings. May God continue blessing you and your housr. Merry Christmas Liz. Love <3

  11. Susan December 24, 2013 at 2:37 pm #

    Merry Christmas! I enjoyed this and I am reading the Women of Christmas. Blessing in the New Year!

  12. Nancy Vasso December 24, 2013 at 3:05 pm #

    Merry Christmas!!! I loved the Women of Christmas and gave it to my two daughters and daughter-in-law for Christmas. I can’t wait until tomorrow when I can start talking about it with them.

  13. CarolAnne December 24, 2013 at 4:02 pm #

    Merry Christmas Everyone! I love these Bible verses, Liz. Thank you for sharing on this Christmas Eve. Always fun to open one gift early ; ) xo

  14. Susan Gruener December 24, 2013 at 5:16 pm #

    Such awesome ‘gifts’ and scriptures! Thank you Liz! Just what we all need today to remind us why we have Christmas.
    All Glory to Him!
    May you and yours have a blessed Christmas!
    Susan

  15. Debbie Scott December 24, 2013 at 7:28 pm #

    Thank you dear Liz. I loved the twelve gifts that He shared with you and you shared with us! Merry Christmas,lovely lady and Happy 2014!:D

  16. Donna Timmons December 25, 2013 at 5:43 am #

    You are the gift under my tree that is a neverending source of love and encouragement. My mother-in-law died one year ago today. But, What better gift did she receive on Christmas than to celebrate with God and family in Heaven. Today, we will celebrate her life.

    Love to you sista, Donna Timmons

  17. Linda H December 25, 2013 at 7:53 am #

    Merry Christmas Liz and for your hard work that brought so many truths to my life! May you blessed with the love and goodness that only comes from our Precious Savior!!!

  18. Elizabeth December 25, 2013 at 10:51 pm #

    Praise Jesus, and may the Lord bless you and yours this time of remembering His love, joy, peace, all of His glorious gifts. I think this is a wonderful way of portraying the Twelve Days of Christmas, and hope you don’t mind that I am borrowing all of your ideas for my own blog. Thank you so much.

  19. Sherry December 26, 2013 at 6:47 pm #

    Merry Merry Christmas, Liz! My Mom gave me your book for Christmas. (The women of Christmas). I can hardly wait to start reading it, but the best part of the gift is when I opened it, my Mom told me she read some of the book. She sometimes talks about church, but she doesn’t go; so perhaps this book is opening that door to talk to her about the LORD and having a relationship with our Heavenly Father. God Bless You. ~ Sherry

    • La Vonda December 31, 2013 at 9:57 am #

      Dear Sherry,
      Your statement reminded me of my mother. She rarely went to church and said that one’s faith was a private thing between them and God.
      One day out of the blue two of my then teen-age children asked her if she had been saved. She tried to talk around the question and then said, “You are making me very angry.” I then stepped in and said, “Mother. your grandchildren love you and just want to know if you are going to Heaven. Have you ever accepted Christ as your Savior? Are you saved? I really don’t care how angry you get, we just want to know.” She gritted her teeth and replied; ” Well, I was saved once.”
      Of course, that is all it takes. She is now in Heaven. Please continue to pray for and encourage your Mother.

      La Vonda

      • Liz Curtis Higgs January 5, 2014 at 4:23 pm #

        LOVE watching God work in your mothers’ lives, Sherry and La Vonda. Thrilling!

  20. Jennie December 27, 2013 at 8:59 am #

    Thank you so much! I just love this list. I love encouraging others concerning these 12 days building to Epiphany celebration of the Christ child. Be blessed!

  21. cathy gross December 29, 2013 at 6:36 am #

    You have taught me so much as God has shared insight with you. But this summation of gifts touched me as no other. He intentionally meets every need, current and future, already. What safety there is in His love!
    I know God blesses you Liz. May He continue to do so.
    Love to you, sister in Jesus!

  22. Anne January 2, 2014 at 5:49 pm #

    Well here it is January 2,2014 and I’ve just made time to read the twelve gifts of Christmas! Thank you for bringing some of my favorite verses to my attention again. Thank you for your dedication that helps me keep on track and in 2014… I’m going to try and praise rather than complain.
    Happy Blessed New Year. I look forward to the new series..

  23. Liz Curtis Higgs January 5, 2014 at 4:21 pm #

    How precious your comments are to me, dear sisters. Isn’t it lovely that we can celebrate the presence of Christ in our lives every day of every year? It’s been a joy meeting with you here this season, and I can’t wait to start exploring the book of Proverbs together. As Paul wrote, “Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well” (1 Thessalonians 2:8). So true!

    • Suelle Austin January 7, 2014 at 8:54 pm #

      I often use your material when teaching my adult Sunday school class. We also divided up the Bad Girls and each person who took one of the girls gave very interesting interpretations. What fun!!! Thanks for all you do.

  24. Marte January 6, 2014 at 10:19 am #

    Oh Liz, my fella footstool gal, CLASS, in the 1990’s Southern Calif ?Women’s Retreat, Irvine…
    Only you would give us more joy, and help us celebrate Jesus/Yeshua but with gifts that we can lock up in our hearts, remeber them fondly! no shipping costs! wrapping paper required???no busy malls….just sweet entering into His Presence and Purpose…
    I discovered “spikenard” this year and gave family women gifts….sweet precious……and I am even been extra patient….”waiting to watch S4E1 of Downton Abbey until my hubby finished his 3 day shift so we can watch it together! 😀

  25. Sherri January 6, 2014 at 10:21 am #

    Thank you for blessing me with more of Jesus! May you be as blessed as you have blessed all of your friends.

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