Room At The Inn

 One of the first things we think about for the Christmas season is Mary, a virgin, having to give birth in a barn, or some believe  it was an actual cave that the innkeeper kept his animals in.  It was shelter for the animals.  Wow, I cannot imagine, after riding all that way, on a donkey, in the cold air of night time, while in “active” labor, praying for a comfortable and warm bed to give birth to the King of the world.  Our Lord and Savior instead was born on a hard slab, in the chill of the air, in a cave.  Dirty, smelly, cold, damp.  

What was Mary and Joseph thinking?  Lord God this is Your son.  Is there someplace better for our Savior to be born?  Well evidently there was not enough time to look elsewhere.  But this was the best they could find. And Jesus was born, a beautiful, healthy baby boy. Who would someday conquer the world.  

This obviously isn’t the end of the story.  Here we are 2025, and there are so many looking for their Savior, or looking for Him to yet come.  Do you realize, we can relive this moment everyday?  But this time our Lord Jesus was born, He was crucified for our sins, and He rose again, sent His Holy Spirit to live in us.   But first, have we made room for Him?  This time not in an inn, or cave.  But in our hearts.  That’s right, we must make room for Jesus, the Holy Spirit to reside in us.  This Christmas let there be room in the Inn.  In our hearts.  How do we do that? By doing some house cleaning.  Let’s get rid of the dirt and cobwebs.  And make it sparkle, shine, and have a sweet sweet fragrance for Jesus. 

By confessing our sins, asking His forgiveness, and inviting Him to live in us, to live in our hearts forever.  

“For to us a Child shall be born, to us a Son shall be given; And the government shall be upon His shoulder, And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬ ‭Amp

Do your circumstances define you?

 All of us face trials.  Some trials last a long time, or a life time.  Some trials only last a day, depending on our own choice to climb out of the hole that was dug.  Some trials are very serious and may last a lifetime, like health issues.  Some trials are not even worth our attention, barely making it a trial.  So often we blame our angry mood as a result of a trial.  We blame our depression as a result of chronic trials or illness.  And the list goes on.  

When you are having a hard time, do you let that show through in your expressions, your attitude, or how you present yourself?  If you do, I’m not going to lay any blame on you.  But I do want to encourage you to climb out of it.  You are better than that.  Remember back when everyone spoke about a positive attitude.  There is something to that.  

I have suffered with terminal illness most of my life.  It hasn’t always been pretty, or tolerable.  However, I know Who my Creator is.  I know Who fills me up everyday.  I know that my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has empowered me to be stronger than any of that.  

Yes I do suffer at times, I am very ill at times, I do not have the stamina I once had.  However, those things do not define who I am.  At least I pray they do not.  When I begin my day I begin with prayer and read my Bible.  I journal on the days I can.  Those few steps help me start my day with the right attitude.  I want to greet others with a smile, or with encouragement.  I do not ever want my troubles to be written all over my face.  Is that denial?  No! It is acknowledging Who is in charge of my heart.  My Lord Jesus.  Do I get discouraged? Of course I do.  But that does not lead me or control me.  The Holy Spirit does, because I have asked the Lord to fill me with His Spirit.  

We are in the midst of the Advent Season.  The season we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus.  I’d like to encourage you all, greet one another with a smile, a positive greeting. We can go a step further.  Help an elderly widow  or young single mother with snow removal, for free, as a gift.  Help an elderly person in the grocery store if they cannot find an item.  Bake some cookies and share them.  And do these things without grumbling, always with a smile, and with a heart of thanksgiving for everything the Lord does for us.  

“In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will prepare [a prayer and a sacrifice] for You and watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart].”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬ Amplified 

“But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.””

‭‭Acts‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭AMP‬‬

A Thanksgiving Reminder

 My recent blog post is a reminder of how a victory can change our perspective. 

 Have you ever felt overwhelmed to the point of saying to God “you’ve had enough, you can’t take another thing”? I’m sure most of us have.  Sometimes it may be a bunch of smaller circumstances that get us frustrated.  Sometimes it may be just 2 or 3 larger problems that bring us to the breaking point.  I can remember as a child often hearing the phrase “it was the straw that broke the camel’s back”. I remember asking my mother what that meant.  Each time she explained it, the more I understood.  

Trust me when I tell you I have experienced that feeling several times.  Usually related to my health.  And I would cry out to God, Lord please, I cannot take one more thing.  Then before I realize, I’ve gotten through that crisis, and over the hurdle, and felt victorious on the other side.

  How did I do that? How did I manage?  As I said above, I cried out to God for His help.  The way I find myself in God’s presence is when I am reading His Word, and talking with Him.  I learn so much from having a one on one conversation with Him.  The hardest part is stopping myself and listen for God’s reply.  There are a few major points God always reminds me of.  

“I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.”          ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139‬:‭14‬ ‭

Most of my struggles have to do with my health. When God reminds me of this verse it is as though He has His arms around me consoling me and making my flesh brand new.  He reminds me that He doesn’t make any mistakes. He has made me to be His faithful daughter and servant of His.  He will take care of my every concern.  

““Before I formed you in the womb I knew you [and approved of you as My chosen instrument], And before you were born I consecrated you [to Myself as My own]; I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” 

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ ‭AMP‬‬

You see God is our Creator.  He loves us so very much.  He formed us with His own hands, perfectly.  He doesn’t make mistakes.  He loves us so much that His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, died on that cross so that we may have abundant life and live victoriously through Him.  

Next time you are having a bad day, try to remember how much our Creator loves you.  And how much He provides for you and protects you.  He has a plan for you, a plan for me.  He will take our hand and guides us along the chosen path