Nativity Tree Day 11 Tambourine - crazyJCgirl.com

The Nativity Tree: Day 11 – Tambourine


Bible Reading: Luke 1:46-56

Everyone runs around these days saying they are “Blessed.” It’s almost become cliche. How you doin’? Blessed. vs. How you doin’? Fine. Are you really? Or is it just an answer we give, cause we know no one really cares how we’re actually doing. If we tell the truth, we’ll sound like Debbie Downer & a cantankerous person who’s got all the time in the world to complain.

If you were to truly tell people how Blessed you are, would it take up 10 minutes? Could you only name a few things? Would you even mention you’re a Christian who’s been washed clean, saved from their sin, received the Holy Ghost, and now has eternal life. Now that is Blessed! Would you come right out and say it, or do you think it sounds cute & cliche.

I told someone I was Blessed once (most sincerely) and they looked frightened. They gave me a look like: Don’t go there – this person really means it – I don’t want to hear your Sunday School lesson – I wished I had never asked – Ah, Run!

As Jesus was saying these things a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” ~ Luke 11:27-28, NIV

Now imagine someone standing up and saying “My soul glorifies the Lord.” There’s no wiggle-room there. This person is having a spirit-filled, heart-felt moment. Their soul is uttering praises that their mind cannot fathom.

Notice Mary PROCLAIMS God’s power (“Mighty One”), His holiness (“holy is his name”), and His mercy (“His mercy extends to those who fear him“) in verses 49 & 50. She REJOICES in “God my Savior” in verse 47, claiming she is humble servant (verse 48). Mary PREDICTED/SAW how God with his power will (1) scatter the proud, (2) dethrone the mighty, & (3) empty the rich, while lifting-up the humble & filling the hungry. She PROCLAIMED how God kept His promises with Israel by showing mercy & sending the Messiah.

Remember, that the Holy Spirit has just used Elizabeth to proclaim the child will be the Messiah back in verses 42-45. Now the Holy Spirit is glorifying the Lord once again through his servant Mary.

How do you glorify the Lord? Normally we think of singing praises or worshiping the Lord. How do you worship?

“…be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.” ~ Ephesians 5:18-19, NIV

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” ~ Colossians 3:16, NIV

“Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.~ 2 Samuel 6:14-15, NIV

“Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.” ~ Psalm 150: 3-5, NIV

“Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp.” ~ Psalm 149:3, NIV

It sounds to me as if we are sing from the heart & praise God with psalms, hymns, songs, & dancing. Note that any dancing that occurred, was felt from the heart and NOT sexual in nature. (No dirty dancing here!) It is glorious, heartfelt, can’t-stop-moving cause I’m so filled with joy dancing.

The timbrel is mentioned several times throughout the Bible (also see Gen 31:27, Ex15:20, Job 21:12, & Psalm 81:2). The tambourine is like a timbrel. Today we are going to make a tambourine for our ornament. You may use it to sing praises & worship the Lord.

Christmas Music:

Ornament Ideas: Tambourine

Paper Plate Tabourine
Yarn & Cardboard Tambourine
No-Sew Embroidery Hoop Tambourines
Jingle Bell Ornament

Coloring / Art Ideas:

Mary’s Song – Fill in the Blank
The Nativity Tree: Day 11 Tambourine - crazyJCgirl.com