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