“The Spirit of Joy“, by Rev. Mike Holly
Sermon Series: The Christmas Spirit
The not-yet-born baby John leaps with joy within the womb of Elizabeth. Life is joyously present in the place that was once barren. For John seems to sense without even being born that something new and wonderful is about to happen through Mary.
Everyone has those moments of doubt and disbelief. Everyone goes through times of sadness, numbness, or even anger. These barren seasons sometimes feel like they will not end. The antidote to these seasons is the hope we have in God through Jesus Christ as well as the joy offered through the kindness and present-ness of our friends, family and others charged to love us and care for us.
Whether you are here in a joyful mood or whether you are here void of joy — know that the child in Mary’s womb is a great gift to all of us. A gift that gives us joy and hope for all of our days.
~Mike Holly
The Word
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”
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WHAT JOY BRINGS ME AT CHRISTMAS AND ALL YEAR. JOY MAGNETS, ON MY FRIG (AT LEASE 12), JOY PILLOWS EVERYWHERE, JOY TOWELS, AND THE WORD JOY HANGING ON THE DOORKNOBS, YOU DO NOT ENTER OUR HOUSE WITHOUT THE WORD JOY. I EVEN HAVE A JOY FOOT MAT. AND A JOY PIN TO WEAR ON A JACKET OR DRESS. SO JUST CALL ME THE LADY THAT LOVES HER NAME