Welcome to those of you hopping over from Karen's Ehmans 12 Days of Christmas give-away or from the P31 woman magazine article I had this month. I wanted to share with you a prayer I penned over the years after my crazy Christmas. I pray through it often during this busy time of year to help me prepare a place for Christ in the manger of my heart and home at Christmas.

The Manger of My Heart
This Christmas, Lord, come to the manger of my heart.
Fill me with your presence, from the very start.
As I prepare for the holidays, and gifts to be given,
Remind me of the gift You gave,
when you sent Your Son from Heaven.

The first Christmas gift, the greatest gift ever,
You came as a baby born in a manger.
Wrapped like the gifts I find under my tree,
Waiting to be opened, to reveal Your love to me.

This Christmas, Lord, come to the manger of my heart.
Search me and know the most intimate parts.
Reveal to me if I have ever hung a sign within,
Claiming it off limits, implying “no room at the Inn.”

Restore to me the wonder that came with Jesus’ birth,
when He left the riches of Heaven
and wrapped Himself in rags of earth.
Emmanuel, God with us, Your presence came that night.
As angels announced, “Into your darkness,
God brings His Light.”

“Do not be afraid,” they said, to shepherds in the field.
Speak to my heart today, Lord, and help me to yield.
Make me like those shepherd boys, obedient to your call.
Casting distractions and worries aside,
to You I surrender them all.

Surround me with Your presence, Lord,
I long to hear your voice.
Clear my mind of concerns and all the holiday noise.
Slow me down this Christmas, let me not be in a rush.
In the midst of parties and planning,
I want to feel Your hush.

This Christmas, Jesus, come to the manger of my heart.
Invade my soul like Bethlehem, bringing peace to every part.
Dwell within and around me,
as I unwrap Your presence each day.
Keep me close to You, Jesus.
It’s in your wonderful Name I pray.

© 2003, Renee Swope ~ www.ReneeSwope.com

Also, here are a few practical ways we can get intentional about unwrapping Christ's presence each day:

• Plan out your holiday calendar and identify which days might be the most challenging. Write on an index card “God’s with me” and carry it around. Every time you feel stressed, thank Him out loud for being "with you" and ask Him to help you as you through your activities.
  
  
• Write down on your schedule time to be with Jesus each day. Sit still in His presence, soak in His perspective through His Word, and bask in His peace as you work, drive, wrap gifts, cook, entertain, etc..
  
  
• Throughout December, listen to songs that remind you of the gift of Christmas - Immanuel – God with you!
  
  
• Make a list of expectations and preparations that could rob you of joy and consume your focus this Christmas. Place the list in a gift box and wrap it in God’s presence with a prayer - asking for His perspective and peace for everything you listed.
  
  
• If you feel yourself getting anxious, go back to the gift box and remind yourself that each assignment and challenge is wrapped in God’s peace. Trust Him and thank Him that no matter what comes your way, He is with you!

If you'd like to be part of today's give-away, you can double your chances of winning by leaving a comment below about your favorite Christmas tradition or how your family celebrates Christ at Christmas. I"ll be giving away my Christmas message on CD and a Bath&Body works candle to someone here and someone on Karen's blog, too.