Merry Christmas, Y’all!! Thanks for stopping by today. I know you’re busy planning, shopping, wrapping, baking and celebrating. The fact that you’ve read my devotion and have stopped by my blog means you are keeping Christ in your Christmas!!

Many are not. They make room for the things I’ve listed above and much, much more, but they fail to make room for Jesus—the reason for the season. It reminds me of a story my pastor told a year or two ago.

“The young boy was thrilled when the teacher announced he would play the part of the Innkeeper in this year’s Christmas play. The girl and the boy who were to play Mary and Joseph always got the lead roles in every play. They were good at play-acting and he wanted to be just as good—even better!  So when the teacher told the little boy to practice his lines with intensity, he did so. “THERE’S No ROOM! THERE’S NO ROOM HERE!”

When the opening night arrived, the little boy was filled with a mix bag of excitement and fear. Back stage he practiced his lines until it was time for him to perform. At the right moment, the boy enter the stage and waited behind the INN made of cardboard for Mary and Joseph.

As expected, Joseph was convincing.

“Dear Innkeeper, we’ve traveled a long way and my wife is with child. Do you have a room available for us to stay the night?”

The little boy replied as he had practiced. “THERE’S NO ROOM! THERE’S NO ROOM HERE!”

Then, Mary, with tears in her eyes, begged. “Please sir, I’m tried, hungry and could give birth at any moment. Is there no room at all?”

The little boy’s heart stirred with compassion but he stayed the course and shouted, “THERE’S NO ROOM! THERE’S NO ROOM HERE!”

Mary and Joseph were so convincing that as they turned to leave the little boy could no longer hold back his emotion. Without thinking, he called out, “Wait! You Can Have My Room!”

I love that story because Jesus is the only gift the world can’t live without.

I pray that you continue to make room for the Christ child in your heart and home this season. Like Patrick in my devotion, anticipate His arrival. Look for His Presence, read His story, and bake a birthday cake just for Him. Our birthday cake will be red velvet this year! I can almost taste it now!

Don’t forget about my giveaway. Share a favorite Christmas memory and enter to win my book, An Untroubled Heart, and my CD talk, Cultivating a Heart of Contentment!

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). 

Is there a good side to trouble? Yes! Trouble highlights my awareness of God’s Presence in my life. And when God is present, nothing is impossible.

To often, I see trouble as my enemy. The truth is it’s my friend. If I’m teachable, I can learn a lot about life, God and myself through adversity. The key is to not fight it but give into it.

My first reaction to trouble is to fight my way through it. I try desperately to find a way out—a way of escape. But God never intended for me to wrestle with trouble or to hide from it. He certainly never meant for me to escape it. In fact, Jesus warned me that in this life I would have trouble. The good news is He has overcome all trouble. And if He’s an overcomer, than I am too! Being an overcomer doesn’t mean I’ll escape hardships. No. Adversity is one of God’s greatest tools for growing me spiritually. It’s in the growing process that I find victory.

It’s in the process that I find God’s mercies.

It’s in the process that I discover His ability to change me.

It’s in the process that I become holy, as He is holy.

It’s in the process that joy and peace become my companions.

It’s in the process that I become complete

It’s in trouble that God does a new thing; a new work.

Presently, I’m learning to trust in God’s sovereignty. When I choose to see things from the perspective that God is in control of all things, fear and my need to work it out vanishes. I may not understand God’s purpose in it, but I can trust Him because I believe He is on my side. And if God is on my side, then anything that touches my life, He’s aware of.  In fact, He’s allowed it for my good.

That’s where faith comes in. When I can say, “God, I don’t understand what’s happening. I didn’t plan for this and I certainly don’t like it, but I trust you” is when peace and joy become my companions in the face of trouble.

When I bank on God’s unending love, fear loses it’s grip. Sorrow gives way to contentment, and I can see God’s hand at work in my circumstances. His loving hand is renewing, restoring and sculpting me into the woman He desires me to be.

I’m learning not to let my troubles drag me into worry. Instead, I’m learning to see it as a heavenly intervention where God is not causing me harm, but rather doing a new thing.  With that perspective, I’m able to welcome trouble. I’m able to see the good side of trouble and my response is thankfulness. I’m thankful that my God is at work bringing to completion in me all He has promised.