Joyful Anticipation

Advent Devotional Message

Central Baptist Church of Woodbury

December 17-24, 2023

Scripture: Luke 1:39-45

Thought/Verse of the Week:  “As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.” – Luke 1:44 (NIV)

Elizabeth must have been busy preparing her home for Mary’s visit.  She was not hosting a big party – rather, she was giving hospitality to her cousin who was facing a very challenging time in her life.  Both were carrying precious lives made possible by the miraculous power of God but the people in their communities may not have understood it that way.  Both women, one older and the other younger, were God’s instruments in blessing all people through their sons.  They were meeting together in mutual support for each other, and eager to share each other’s story of angelic visitations.  

Before Mary arrived, Elizabeth must have been struggling with her own feelings.  While grateful for God’s blessing of a child, she was probably nervous about having a child in old age.  She may have worried about Mary’s pregnancy and how Joseph, Mary’s fiancé, would react when he knew about it.  There is no way that we will know how Elizabeth felt or what she was thinking about prior to Mary’s arrival.   Luke didn’t include these details except Elizabeth’s response to Mary’s greeting.  Filled with the Holy Spirit, Elizabeth expressed a joyful affirmation of her cousin as the mother of her Savior.  She was not alone in her joy – her baby leaped for joy in her womb!   God transformed their family reunion into a worship service.   This small community of faith gathered in Elizabeth’s home, praised and worshipped God with great joy!  Whatever anxieties were felt by the two women were replaced by God’s joy and loving presence.  

This is the time of the year that many of us prepare to host family and friends who come to visit us on Christmas Eve or Christmas day.  We have family and church traditions that we cherish and no Christmas celebration would be complete without them. 

Every year most of us look forward to Christmas and all that we do together to celebrate the first coming of Jesus Christ.  However just like Elizabeth, some of us may be struggling with personal, family, or community issues.   Or like Mary we may feel like we need time to get away and seek the quiet companionship of a trusted family member or friend.  If we find ourselves in any of these situations, like Elizabeth and Mary, we can trust God’s Spirit to empower us to support one another in prayer, through words of encouragement and attentive presence.  Together we can joyfully anticipate the coming of Christ in our midst and in our hearts.  (CRK)

“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)

dance of the daffodils

By Carla A. Romarate-Knipel

photo by: Carla A. Romarate-Knipel

your yellow bonnets

nod shyly as the breeze kiss

your radiant faces.

sleeping through winter

you are awake, in full bloom

yearning for the sun.

in awe, I watch you

with joy and delight, my lips

curved into a smile.

this almost-spring-day

you bend and sway, while birds sing

songs that warm my heart.

photo by: Carla A. Romarate-Knipel

Carla A. Romarate-Knipel,

copyright 2022

Early Morning Prayer

Photo by Mikhail Nilov on Pexels.com

Gracious, loving God,

On this cold, wintry day

I thank you for the warmth of your love

that covers me like a blanket,

keeping me safe and secure.

As the snow lays on the ground.

I am comforted by your words through the prophet Isaiah,

that though my “sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow.”

Thank you for your grace and forgiveness.

Help me to fall asleep again, and in the darkness breathe

deeply and close my eyes.

Watch over me and all I love until I awaken to the dawning

of a new day.

Prayer written by Carla A. Romarate-Knipel, copyright 2022

A New Year’s Day Prayer

by Carla A. Romarate-Knipel, copyright 2022

It’s the first day of the new year, O God.

I thank you for the past year – with all its

…blessings, hardships, and challenges.

I thank you that you were with me

the whole time.

Even in the darker days, your Light

shone

… to illuminate my path,

… to warm my heart,

and lead me forward.

Now here I am,

at the beginning of a

new year.

May I go through this day and this year,

with confidence

in your everlasting, unconditional

love.

May I look up to You, who look upon me with

favor,

not because I am perfect, but because you are

perfect

and by my faith in Jesus, you have made me your

child.

Send me forth then into this new year, into your

world,

with hope and strength

to be your living, breathing blessing

to everyone I meet on this path,

journeying together…

to the future that you have prepared

for all your beloved children,

with faith, hope and love.

In the name of Jesus, the Alpha and the Omega,

the Author of my beginnings and endings.

Amen.

Photo by Simon Berger on Pexels.com

The First Time

I remember the first time you touched me.

my mind …

my heart …

my body …

my mind was like a landscape that you explored with deliberate, tender steps

seeking to behold another soul, waiting to know if I were the one or should you move on.

my heart was like a garden, on which you sowed seeds of your vulnerable, truthful self – transparent and transcendent

breaking open to let the slender, fragile shoots of your beautiful soul

blossom into a fiery, enduring love that rages beyond finite time and space.

my body was like a canvas lavished by the brush strokes of your deep desire

to know me – the vibrant colors and rich textures of sweet communion with your beloved.

All these touchings are now just memories I cherish

and longing for them to come alive again

in my dreams

in my striving

to keep you ever present

with me,

long after I finally decide to scatter your ashes over the ocean that once separated us, but now

has become an ever flowing reminder

that our love goes on and on …

– Carla A. Romarate-Knipel

7.19.23

(copyright 2023)

an ever flowing reminder that our love goes on and on…