No Room

Last night we took our son to see "Believe"...a beautiful re-telling of the night Jesus was born in Bethlehem.

This particular production focused a lot on Mary's thoughts and fears of being a young, unwed, teenage mother. She went to live with her older cousin for part of her pregnancy. It took a divine visitation to convince Joseph to embrace the miracle and beauty of Jesus's birth and life.

Then, they had to journey to Bethlehem (the place of his ancestors) right before Mary gave birth.

You would think in the place of their ancestors there would have been room with family for them to stay...for Jesus's birth to be celebrated and acknowledged. But there was no room. Instead, angels announced His birth to lowly shephards (nomads). The star led them to a smelly stable and wise men brought shower gifts.

I sat with tears in my eyes...Jesus knew what it was like to be born in hushed, humbled circumstances...to find no room, even in the place of his ancestors. The Son of God came to OUR world. Because of Love.

You can watch this powerful re-telling here live online today...three performances.

There is Room in My Heart
Emily Elliott 1864

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.
Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
And in great humility.

The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest
In the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,
In the deserts of Galilee.

Thou camest, O Lord, with the living Word,
That should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee to Calvary.

When the heav’ns shall ring, and her choirs shall sing,
At Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me home, saying “Yet there is room,
There is room at My side for thee.”