My motel was overcrowded. People from all over the nation were coming to the town in order to abide by the law of the nation. I got some wood from the barn in the backyard and put it into the fire place. I rubbed hard to light the fire and it slowly made my motel warm.

 I was happy that I had given the best service to the people who sought shelter in my motel. I was happy that I had utilized my motel for the service of humanity. I took a blanket and covered myself. I sat at the motel entrance and keep my eyes open. I could see people walking with great pain. The storm was not letting them move. From a distance, I could see a man walking beside a donkey. I saw him taking special care of the lady seated on the donkey. They walked slowly and after every few steps the man would stop and look upto the heavens and then to the lady. They walked on the straight road that led to my motel. I was worried that I would have to say no to them.

 They walked closer to me. They saw the board “Motel Full” and stopped. I took a deep breath and thought within myself, thank god they are not going to knock. The looked at each other and then walked to me. They knocked at my door. They knocked again and again and again and I reluctantly opened it. Before they said anything, I told them to read the board. They looked at me with eyes full of hope and all I could say way I am helpless, I looked closely at the lady and found her in great pain. I quickly realized that she was in labour pains.

 I didn’t wish to say no but I had no room for them. I quickly realized that as I walked by to the barn, I had seen some space in my manger. I looked at them and said “Sorry I don’t have a room for you, nor can I serve you with a blanket as all my hospitality is given to the guests in my motel, but all I can is offer you my manger and leave you to your fate.”

 They were happy to hear these words and blessed me with their heart. That night an Immanuel was born in my manger. All my efforts for my guests, all my hospitality didn’t count, but the manger that I offered them counts till today. People remember my manger every year on Christmas.

 Guys no matter what good you do, not matter how much you give, until you have a space for the Immanuel you gain nothing. No matter if it’s a small old manager at the backyard of your life, if Immanuel is in your life, you have made the best of your life.

 Life is a twisted roller coaster will ups and downs, most of the twist is full of wonders that how can I overcome this twist? This twist in life will surely twist me to death. It was yet another incident that I went through that I realized that the calculations and equations I tried to balance were not summing up to a profit nor was it ending in a no loss no gain state. I felt that all my calculations went wrong and my expectations were all broken.

It was this time that the rema – the living word of God spoke to me saying, Cast your burdens unto Jesus and He will care for you. It again spoke to me for the Joy of the Lord is my strength.

Well that’s where I realized that the joy of the Lord is really my strength and it was this strength that lead me through in past 25 years of my twisted roller coaster ride,

What I realized in when the twist were beyond my capabilities, I felt was that the more you keep you God joyful the more you receive strength not to escape this roller coaster ride but to overcome it with splendid success.

You may ask me then what is the key to keep God joyful? Well the rema speaks for itself.

Read this passage:

Psalm 66

To the Chief Musician. A Song. A Psalm.

 ¹ Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!
 ² Sing out the honor of His name;
         Make His praise glorious.
 ³ Say to God,
         “How awesome are Your works!
         Through the greatness of Your power
         Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.
 ⁴ All the earth shall worship You
         And sing praises to You;
         They shall sing praises to Your name.”  Selah  
         
 ⁵ Come and see the works of God;
         He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.
 ⁶ He turned the sea into dry land;
         They went through the river on foot.
         There we will rejoice in Him.
 ⁷ He rules by His power forever;
         His eyes observe the nations;
         Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves.  Selah  
         
 ⁸ Oh, bless our God, you peoples!
         And make the voice of His praise to be heard,
 ⁹ Who keeps our soul among the living,
         And does not allow our feet to be moved.
 ¹⁰ For You, O God, have tested us;
         You have refined us as silver is refined.
 ¹¹ You brought us into the net;
         You laid affliction on our backs.
 ¹² You have caused men to ride over our heads;
         We went through fire and through water;
         But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.
         
 ¹³ I will go into Your house with burnt offerings;
         I will pay You my vows,
 ¹⁴ Which my lips have uttered
         And my mouth has spoken when I was in trouble.
 ¹⁵ I will offer You burnt sacrifices of fat animals,
         With the sweet aroma of rams;
         I will offer bulls with goats.  Selah  
         
 ¹⁶ Come and hear, all you who fear God,
         And I will declare what He has done for my soul.
 ¹⁷ I cried to Him with my mouth,
         And He was extolled with my tongue.
 ¹⁸ If I regard iniquity in my heart,
         The Lord will not hear.
 ¹⁹ But certainly God has heard me;
         He has attended to the voice of my prayer.
         
 ²⁰ Blessed be God,
         Who has not turned away my prayer,
         Nor His mercy from me!