“Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room”

Advent Devotional

December 3 -9, 2023

Scripture:  Luke 3:1-6

Thought/Verse of the Week:   As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the desert,  Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him…”- Luke 3:4 (NIV)

One of the things that I love about living on Delaware Street is that I can walk to the Woodbury Public library, the Coffee Shop and the Post office. Years ago, in one of my walks to the Post office, I noticed that the lamps on Broad Street had been decorated with evergreen wreaths and red bows.  Looking at these festive lamps reminded me of Charles Dickens’ beloved classic, A Christmas Carol.  

As I strolled down Broad Street, I imagined Dickensian characters singing Christmas carols underneath one of the lamps – with white, powdery snow falling and laying on their woolen coats.  

While reflecting on these images and sounds, memories of Christmases past flashed through my mind.  One of them was of street children singing carols outside our front door at Jelimore Apartments, Iloilo City, Philippines.  It was the first Christmas Dave and I celebrated as a married couple.  In the cool December air, the carolers sang, “Joy to the World.” 

When they got to the chorus, we were surprised to hear these words, “Let there be one, let there be two…”  As they continued singing it became obvious that our young friends didn’t know the correct lyrics of the beloved Christmas hymn.   We had to point out to them that the words of the chorus really were, “Let every heart prepare him room…”  

As we continue our Advent journey, let us remember to prepare a room for Jesus in our hearts.  Let us set aside anything that will hinder us from being a gracious host to Jesus and all those that Jesus will send our way in this season of love, joy and peace.   (CRK)

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Carla Romarate-Knipel

Ever since I was a child, I enjoyed reading and writing. Perhaps it was because my parents were great storytellers and voracious readers. As soon as I learned to write (yes I did it in cursive like everybody else did then!) I started a diary. When I was nine years old I sent a letter to my Dad who was an overseas contract worker in Guam. I wrote it in a form of a comic book and illustrated it myself. As a student at the Central Philippine University Elementary School, I was the Filipino literary editor of our school paper, the Mini Echo. To this day I was baffled by that because I was not that good in Filipino! In highs school I served as literary editor in the Central High Herald. I began to write poems and short stories that unfortunately I don't have any copies saved because we didn't have computers and flash drives then. II joined a short story writing contest sponsored by Central echo, CPU's college paper some time in the 1980's. I joined because I needed money to buy a new pair of sandals. My short story was titled, "Leaves," and it won first place! The chief judge was Prof. Alfredo Q. Gonzales, author of the classic essay, "The Will of a River," one of my favorite reads of Filipino literature in English. I did a lot of writing in college/seminary and graduate school but the most fun I had was when I was writing poems and short stories. Fast forward to the 21st century, I now write sermons every week and articles for our monthly news letter. Currently I serve as Senior Pastor of Central Baptist Church of Woodbury in Woodbury, New Jersey, U.S.A. This is my twelfth year at CBC, where my husband and I served as co-interim pastors from 2010 through 2012. We have a 19-year old son who is a college freshman, and my technical adviser in all things digital. In this continuing writing adventure I am thankful to God for giving me the inspiration to write and the joy that goes with it. I hope that my poems, prayers and prose inspire joy in my readers.

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