{"id":31197,"date":"2022-12-08T21:12:53","date_gmt":"2022-12-09T02:12:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=31197"},"modified":"2022-12-08T21:17:28","modified_gmt":"2022-12-09T02:17:28","slug":"worship-wednesday-sounding-joy-ellie-holcomb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=31197","title":{"rendered":"Worship Wednesday – Sounding Joy – Ellie Holcomb"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Photo Credit: Hope in the Healing<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let the whole earth shout to the LORD; be jubilant, shout for joy, and sing.<\/em> – Psalm 98:4<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

…the time came for her Child to be born. And she [Mary] gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. Just then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, \u201cDo not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:<\/strong> Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!<\/strong> And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.\u201d And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: \u201cGlory to God in the highest, and on earth peace…!” <\/em>Luke 2:7-14<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every year since our children were tiny, we put on a family Christmas play. All of us dressing like those who were present (or summoned) for the birth of Christ. A baby doll wrapped in “swaddling clothes” representing newly born Jesus. Acting out the events of that miraculous day, with Scripture as our guide, can draw in even the youngest of children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, that being said, putting on a Christmas play (as we saw in A Charlie Brown Christmas<\/a><\/em>) doesn’t always have us marveling at the mystery of Christ’s birth…A few days ago, our four little grandchildren started “practicing” for this year’s family Christmas play. It was not without drama. The girls jockey for who will be Mary and who will be the angel. The boys use the shepherd’s crooks as swords. The only way we will probably be able to get our youngest grandson into a shepherd’s robe is to make out like he will be a Ninja. Joseph wants to have a knife tucked into his belt. Time travel was mentioned. Somewhere in all of that is found the message of Christmas – Christ came, and, with him, salvation for all who would receive him by faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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