From Christmas to Twelfth Night

For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.—John 3:16-17.
  The greatest gift our Father could give the children of this world was His First Begotten Son, the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, to dwell among us and show us the way to live so that we might return Home to Him swiftly.
  From October 20 to Christmas, new prophecies are given, old prophecies explained and new Power is released according to how well you passed your initiations during the period of temptation, since August 10.
  On December 18th and 19th you undergo initiations in preparation for the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, which is the prelude to the increase of the life-giving Christ Light. Question yourself; create your own questionnaire about past limitations and ask your soul if any taint of self remains.
  Part of your destiny is to free earth of all taints of self. Go to your early beginnings and put all blame, criticism and irritation at anyone in the shaft of fire. Leave no taint of your self on the surface of anyone's aura.
  Christmas is The Nativity, the celebration of the birth of the Christ Child, symbolizing the Christ Light being born anew on earth. From the Winter Solstice to Christmas marks the three-day period of shortest days and longest nighttime hours, and to the ancient pagans represented the dawn of Light.
  During the period from Christmas to Twelfth Night, the Heavenly Councils hold the level of Power released through you to see what you do with it, and how you operate on full Power. If the Power is too great for you to stand strongly and firmly, they reduce it as needed.






Edna Lister on Christmas to Twelfth Night

The days leading to Christmas are a period in which you are preparing for peace. With a heart singing in joy, you can pile up joy-credits to last through the time of singing nerves.—Edna Lister, I Challenge Fate, November 29, 1936.


[The mother in the following story was Edna Lister herself.] Let me share a Christmas story with you. A woman, who lived in the Rocky Mountain backcountry forest of central Idaho with her husband and two small children, was alone and ill. The father had gone to town for supplies. The mother and her sons had no food. To make matters worse, her husband was marooned in town.
  In her extremity, fearful for her husband and sons, she prayed for the ability to heal and nurture minds and hearts, beginning with her own. God answered and told her she could do so with just a little more love, and a little more praise. So she poured out her love of God in prayer and praised Him until she fell asleep.
  On Christmas Eve, the weather broke, and by Christmas Day her husband returned safely.—Edna Lister, Fulfillment, December 5, 1937.


To live by the laws of the Via Christa, the Way of Christ, you must dedicate yourself to his service in obedience, beginning at midnight of Christmas Eve, walking his path until noon on Easter. This is how you become a fisher of men.—Edna Lister, Straightway, January 14, 1939.


The period from Christmas to Lent encompasses a whole lifetime of 33.5 years. That is why it is so difficult always to hold to your vows, especially during the sacrifices of Lent.—Edna Lister, The Vows of Ascension, January 7, 1940.


Do you think that you have to wait for Christmas or Easter for the Power to move through? Ascend in consciousness to open the Power line to your twelve soul faculties, and release it.—Edna Lister, What Is Freedom? July 10, 1955.


Something in your life is always moving up or down, ascending or descending. Most people don't know how to strike a balance and walk upward calmly, but react when another spits on them. The Elect, who are descended creator gods, are still this stupid, and to go down in consciousness is unnecessary and unworthy.
  So many people hibernate from Christmas to Ash Wednesday, which is pointless. Hibernation by a conscious being is descension. From Ash Wednesday to Ascension Thursday is a climbing period. Each of these periods lasts roughly forty days, and following them, nature regenerates with buds and foliage.
  Holy Week is a cleansing period, when the heavenly Father asks you how much pressure you can take before Easter. Then, in new and higher ways, from Easter to Ascension Thursday, the Power redoubles, and He ask us again. How much pressure and tension can you take during this period?
  From Palm Sunday to the Resurrection, Jesus recapitulated his entire life. He taught parables and law. Matthew, chapters 22, 23 and 24 contain all his warnings for us, which he condensed during Holy Week.—Edna Lister, Integrity: Your Great Anchor, April 22, 1962.


If you are squinched up in your soul, you will say, "I cannot afford to give" at Christmas. Give something, if only a smile or a nickel. Do you believe God's store of substance is so small? Make Christmas pay you dividends. Declare that Jesus is born again anew in the hearts and minds of men. The Star of Bethlehem shines over everyone on earth. Make this the greatest Christmas you have ever had.—Edna Lister, After the Resurrection, December 17, 1967.


The fifth Sunday after Easter is always Ascension Sunday, and the Father releases great and mighty Light that sets the keynote of Power until Christmas.—Edna Lister, What Ascension Means, May 19, 1968.


Today is Trinity Sunday. Twenty-seven Sundays, counting from Pentecost, precede the Advent, the period before the birth of Jesus, the first Sunday in December. The churches have named the Sundays between Pentecost and Advent, but have never formally prepared for extending the descent of the Holy Spirit. They have lost much symbolism and meaning in slighting this ritual. We are preparing now for the descent of the Holy Ghost at Christmas. Its descent will increase every seven days until the third Sunday of Advent, two weeks before Christmas.—Edna Lister, Conversion and Mysticism, June 9, 1968.


What do I bring first to everything I am called upon to do? Light.
  What motivates me to do this?
  Am I interested in it?
  What is my good judgment on this?
  What do others need to know?
  Do I realize the ability of Love to expand all life?
  Do I want to help God?
  How high do I want to ascend into the Light?
  How open do I want my eyes to be?
  What degree of Light do I occupy? Do I know?
  With what degree of Light am I satisfied?
—Edna Lister, Questionnaire, November 13, 1970.


How high is my temperature of love today?
  Have I held a special need higher?
  Have I put everything I can into my devotion?
  Have my love of God and devotion lifted me higher?
  Have I called on more Light this week than ever before?
  God accepts what you give. But if you are satisfied, you are missing something.
  How dedicated a day can I spend?
—Edna Lister, Questionnaire, November 22, 1970.


Can I increase the glory of my giving, of my releasing of Power a thousandfold?
  What orbit of joy am I prepared to occupy?
  Am I drawing upon the Source for Light's fullness?
—Edna Lister, Questionnaire, December 10, 1970.


Don't you think the time has come for true soul repentance?
  Why make the blunders daily and pray for the record to be erased at night?
  Do you feel any closer to your Source than you have in other years?
—Edna Lister, Questionnaire, December 14, 1970.

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Edna Lister’s Sermons on Christmas to Twelfth Night

The Glory of the Christ Idea: Edna Lister sermon outline, December 23, 1934.

The Christian Home: Edna Lister sermon outline, December 22, 1935.

The Divine Gift: Edna Lister sermon outline, December 22, 1946.

Christmas: Edna Lister Bible study outline; December 22, 1946.

Your Divine Gift: Edna Lister sermon outline, December 25, 1955.

Unwaveringly I Stand: Edna Lister Prayer Circle newsletter article, December 1968.

Every Good Gift: Edna Lister Prayer Circle newsletter article, October 3, 1969.

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The Nativity in the New Testament

Matthew's Account of the Nativity: Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
  But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
  Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.—Matthew 1:18-25.
  Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
  And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, and thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
  When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
  And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: and was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
  Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, in Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
  But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: and he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.—Matthew 2.

Luke's Account of the Nativity: And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
  And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
  Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.—Luke 1:26-38.
  And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David); to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
  And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
  And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.—Luke 2:1-18.

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Edna Miriam Lister
1884—1971
The original Pioneering Mystic,
Christian Platonist philosopher, American Idealist, Founder, Society of the Universal Living Christ, minister, teacher, author, wife, and mother.


Edna Lister


In the Bleak Midwinter

In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan;
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain,
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty —
Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom Cherubim
Worship night and day,
A breastful of milk
And a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom Angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
Which adore.

Angels and Archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air;
But only His Mother
In her maiden bliss
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am? —
If I were a Shepherd
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man
I would do my part, —
Yet what I can I give Him, —
Give my heart.
—Christina Rossetti


References

Rossetti, Chrstina. "A Christmas Carol." Scribner's Monthly, January 1872 issue. New York: Scribner & Co. iii (3): 278.

The Holy Bible. King James Version (KJV).