In this (newly revised and improved in 2016) 2nd edition of his popular Christmas devotional book, Derek Maul updates, reformats, adds some new content, and generally refreshes his timeless collection of Advent stories. What's a tree doing in my living room? Why is it dressed in a kind of horticultural drag? Have you ever found yourself reclining in your favorite chair on a cold December evening, a cup of coffee poised on your lap, staring at the Christmas tree in the corner and wondering that very thing? Whether you're an observant Christian who loves the meaning and celebration of the season or a burned-out one, In My Heart I Carry A Star is a devotional-story almanac to understand and appreciate the possibilities Christmas offers. No matter where you are spiritually, Christ desires to bless you with an Advent journey overflowing with expectation and peace and life and hope and love. "This is my prayer," writes Maul, "that in the midst of all the wonder, and the bustle, and the peace, and the constant performance art that is December, the Jesus who makes my life necessarily uncomfortable at times will work God's inexorable way out of the margins and into the heart of Christmas Present for each of us." Derek Maul is a great storyteller. Along with a knack for commenting on life with wit and humor, he recognizes God's grace in the midst of it all. The stories within this book reveal the light to be found in the season's swirl of festivities, stresses, memories and difficult realities.