On the 7th day of Christmas- there room for Him?

Luke 2:7

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

I have been thinking about this little phrase for a while now. My pastor actually preached along these lines sunday morning and i really enjoyed it! Many, many years ago a very pregnant, young lady named Mary and a young man named Joseph needed a place to sleep, they saw an inn. They had traveled a long, exhausting trip from Nazareth to come to Bethlehem to pay taxes. Think about it...they didn't hop in their nice SUV and back out of the drive way and travel for just a few hours. Im sure they either had a donkey or camel that Mary rode on and Joseph led the way. It took close to a week to get to Bethlehem. I've never ridden on a donkey or camel but I can imagine it wouldn't be comfortable especially riding it for days. I complain when we travel just a few hours and we have it a whole lot better than they did. They weren't going on vacation or to see family but to pay taxes...that would make the trip even less delightful.

They finally made it to Bethlehem and were worn out. Mary was close to having Jesus and she needed a place to rest. Joseph searched for an inn. They find one and I'm sure they were excited about getting a place to sleep. Sadly the inn keeper had no room.

I am sure the inn keeper had heard of the coming baby Jesus, but he had no room for him. I feel like I am this way a lot of times in my life. I wonder why he turned them away. Maybe he was too busy, or was too worried about what others might think. Maybe he was afraid it might upset the other guests in the inn. Maybe he really had no room. Either way he said no, and our Savior was later born in a stable with dirty animals, Mary had no bed to lay him in so she placed him in a manger. A manger that held the animals food. The Son of God was born in the lowest place...as I wrote the other day I am amazed at his humility! 

My pastor said something I'd never thought about...why didn't the inn keeper give up his own room? Why are we so unloving toward the needy? it was only for one night. If someone needed your room or help would you give it? would you really give the clothes off your back? Mary needed a room a whole lot more than the inn keeper did! But he didn't have room and on top of that he didn't make room.

              -Manger means "a trough or open box in a stable designed to hold feed or fodder for livestock." (websters dictionary) When I looked up the defintion I read a comment that reminded me that he is the word and the word is our bread. We are to chew and keep chewing what God shows us in his word. The stable was all apart of God's plan...if there had been a room for them I don't think the story of his birth would be as amazing or interesting. 

Christmas is about giving gifts not getting. God gave his only Son. Jesus gave his life. Everyday God keeps on giving to us. But what do we give him?

One thing I know i can give Jesus is to make room for him. Take time to spend with him. Christmas is such a busy time of year and it is easy to lose sight of what matters most...Him!

Spend time with him, don't turn him away. If you don't make room for Jesus in your heart...he won't make room for you. If you don't know him you are missing out. He is the best gift ever!!! I've been given a lot in my life but nothing compares to him! Just knowing he is there and cares for me...I wouldn't trade him for anything!❤💛 

On the 6th day of Christmas--Practice Jesus

My mom shared this poem the other night while speaking at our ladies Christmas ornament swap at church. She spoke about having less of me and more of Him. {{John 3:30--He must increase, but I must decrease.}} 

Practice Jesus

If we practiced Jesus every way,

It'd be like Christmas every day;

If we, like Him, we're meek and mild

And loved each woman, man and child,

If we'd read our Bible, it'd remind us, 

So that every single day would find us

More and more in sweet accord

With our sweet Jesus- Master, Lord.

Then every day that we're alive 

Would be like December 25.

-anonymous 

I love Christmas and I want it to be like Christmas every day! :)

On the 5th day of Christmas-Ornaments for the tree

Yesterday we were reminded that Christmas is about the tree...what goes on the tree? Ornaments of course! Lots and lots of different and beautiful kinds of ornaments. On our Christmas tree there's a wide variety, some big, some small, some handmade, some simple, some that sparkle, and some that jingle. Each is different but each makes me smile...that is what God wants others to do when they see us. The bible says we are to die daily and take up our (own) cross just as Jesus did. He wants us to have a  meek and quiet spirit to put on our tree. The verse actually says to hide it in the heart but whatever is in your heart will show up on the outside too.

 Here is a pic of my newest ornaments I got from the ornament swap we had at church the other night. I totally love them!

Like I said above we are all different (each of God's designs are beautiful and unique) but our attitude can make us look quite ugly...make sure this Christmas and everyday you put on a quiet (still, silent, calm, peacful) and meek (humble and mild) attitude! This is much easier said than done. We need to remember the lost are watching closely and we are supposed to be different. Also remember the word of God is an ornament of grace (kindness, beauty, and favor), show others grace like God has shown you. The Bible teaches us how to be quiet, meek and graceful. 

Below are a few verses showing us what Gods favorite ornaments are like. Please read them.

1 Peter 3:4

But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Proverbs 1:7-10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge:

but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

 My son, hear the instruction of thy father,

and forsake not the law of thy mother:

 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head,

and chains about thy neck.

I am thankful for all the meanings behind the traditions we have. Most people have no idea that just about every aspect of Christmas is pointing to and showing us the Word (the Lord Jesus Christ). Check back tomorrow for another day of Christmas :)

On the 4th day of Christmas...the Christmas tree

As you can probably tell I love Christmas! It is my most favorite time of year. Every month this year when the calendar hit 25 I let everyone know exactly how many months it was until Christmas. I love the decorations, the pretty lights, the movies, the music, the sweets and the tree! In a way it's like Christmas decorations are focused around the tree. Who decorates for Christmas without a tree? I sure don't. We have a few different Christmas trees we put up in our house. I love decorating them and thinking about the memories each ornament has.

Even the tree points to Christ. If you haven't learned about the history of Christmas I recommend you do that. A few years ago I heard a Sunday school lesson about it. I learned some great things. Today I want to talk about the tree. It's not Christmas without the tree. :)

There are 3 ways to look at it. Take a look at your tree:

1. it has 3 sides. There is the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. You can't have one without having the others. 

2. The tree of Calvary where Jesus died for the sins of the world. The greatest tree of all! I am thankful He died for me!

3. Christmas trees aren't like the other trees...all the other trees I see have bare branches. Christmas trees stay green all year long. Like our Lord they never change with the changes of the seasons. 

What do you see when you look at your tree?

Below is a little poem I wrote. Come back tomorrow for more :)

On the third day of Christmas- Good tidings of great joy...meeting baby Jesus

Don't you love how different God's mind is from ours. Of all the people in the world he sends the angel to the lowly shepherds who were watching over their flock. He sends the angel to tell them the Savior is born and to invite them to go visit him! I never really noticed this before tonight but Jesus is a shepherd (the true shepherd) and the first people besides Mary and Joseph to get to meet the Savior were the shepherds. The wise men came later when Jesus was around 2 years old. I love how God always uses the little, the young, the dumb, the poor, those who are nothing special and he makes himself real to them and shows them his glory! They were told first hand that "peace on earth and good will toward men" had finally come! And because they went and search for the babe in the manger they got to welcome sweet baby Jesus to earth. Just think of it, the one who would die on an old rugged cross just 33 and a half years later, they got to see and worship as a newborn baby! I think that is so awesome!

Here is the account of the shepherds:

 Luke 2:8-17 KJV

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them:and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not:for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

God loves to show himself to those who he knows will humbly bow before him. Luke 2:20 says: And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

 They had seen Jesus, been with Jesus and they didn't hide it. They went and told about his birth. Meeting the Savior changed them and it changed me too.

I wasn't there the day Jesus was born, I wasn't there the day he died, and I wasn't there the day he arose from the grave...but I'm so thankful for the day I met him! On May 10,2009 I met this Savior and he gave me peace indescribable, he gave me joy unspeakable, and he gave me love unfathomable! Despite my extreme unworthiness he sent the Holy Ghost to speak to my heart; he led me to an old fashion altar where I bowed my knee and my heart and became his forever. I am glad I know what Christmas is really about. He came to die for you too. ❤ 

Check back tomorrow for the 4th day of Christmas :)