Subscribe
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
36.9 F
Atlanta
type here...
Subscribe
prepare him room
Her Life Speaks
3 min.Read

3 Simple Ways to “Prepare Him Room”

Brandi Hawthorne
By Brandi Hawthorne

Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room

I believe the holiday season is indeed the most wonderful time of the year. I love snuggling up under a cozy blanket with a cup of hot chocolate and a Christmas movie. I love the hustle and bustle of shopping and the jolly “Merry Christmas!” greeting from strangers. The radiance of lights all around, the bundling up with coats, scarves, and mittens, and the toasty car rides blasting holiday tunes are what I look forward to year after year.

But, honestly, I can do all of that with everyone on my list except the One who should be at the center of it all:

Jesus.

God is always speaking.

I was taking my daughter to school the other morning when an unfamiliar song came on the radio. I probably would have listened, but my mind was elsewhere. My 7-year-old and 15-month-old were probably engaged in a war of who can say “Mommy” the most times during our 15-minute ride to school. But, suddenly, in this sea of new lyrics, she said, “Let every heart prepare Him room”.

I’ve heard Joy to the World hundreds of times and honestly, I can sing it without giving the meaning too much thought. But, this time, those six words astounded me.

Make room for Jesus.

When Jesus’ birth was near, there wasn’t any room for Mary & Joseph in the Inn. So, they found a barn. I pondered the last time my heart had a vacancy. Do I make room for Jesus as I’m scheduling my day or is He an afterthought?

Ask yourself.

Is there any room for Him on Christmas morning as we tear through wrapping paper, oohing and aaahing over things that can never forgive our sins? Have I remembered those who are truly in need?

Will Jesus have to find another place to stay because my heart has no more room?

heartTime to Clean House

If you shuddered at the answers you just gave, it’s not too late to prepare Him a room. I’m not about that giving up life. Let’s start cleaning now and make a place for Jesus!

  1. Rise, shine, give Him the glory!

Wherever you go after your feet hit the floor in the morning, make a note to spend some time with Jesus. Maybe that’s your bathroom mirror, coffee pot or shower. Wherever it is, don’t begin your day without acknowledging Him (Mark 1:35).

  1. Give Him your undivided, undistracted attention.

Whenever I get in the car, I turn on the radio. Whenever I’m folding clothes, I turn on the TV.  Whenever I’m cleaning, I listen to a podcast or chat with a girlfriend. What are your time-fillers? Every day, choose one thing to replace with time in the Word or a good ole’ conversation with your Creator (Matthew 6:6).

  1. Make time for others.

This can be hard when you’re barely making it with your own busy schedule, but that just means it’s time to put some things down or delegate them to others. Jesus wasn’t cooped up in His house all day. He was available. Once a month, invite someone to dinner. Plan a visit to the nursing home or the sick and shut-in. We have to intentionally make ourselves available to others (Luke 6:35).

Earlier this week, my daughter began to ramble off her Christmas wish list. I thought that would be a good time to ask her, “what are we getting Jesus?” After all, we are celebrating His birth. It took her a moment before she said, “I’m getting Him a birthday party!”

So, what’s the play call?

Make Jesus the focus and priority this season.

I think my daughter had a wonderful idea! And, I’ve just added you to the guest list. So…

What gift are you bringing Jesus?

 

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
oldest
newest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

HIGHLIGHTS

CT

They Changed Their Minds about Slavery and Left a Bible Record

0
Two businessmen’s unusual conversion in 1700s South Carolina led them to liberate the people they put in bondage. At first glance, William Turpin and his business partner, Thomas Wadsworth, appeared to be like most other prestigious and powerful white men in late 18th-century South Carolina. They were successful Charleston merchants, had business interests across the state, got involved in state politics, and enslaved numerous human beings. Nothing about them seemed out of the ordinary. But, quietly, these two men changed their minds about slavery. They became committed abolitionists and worked to free dozens of enslaved people across South Carolina. When most wealthy, white Carolinians were increasingly committed to slavery and defending it as a Christian institution, Turpin and Wadsworth were compelled by their convictions to break the shackles they had placed on dozens of men and women. In an era when the Bible was edited so that enslaved people wouldn’t get the idea that God cared about their freedom, Turpin left a secret record of emancipation in a copy of the Scriptures, which is now in the South Carolina State Museum. Perhaps it’s not surprising that this story of faith and freedom is mostly unknown. The two men were, after all, working not to attract attention. Neither had deep roots in Charleston or close familial ties to its storied white “planter” dynasties. Turpin’s family was originally from Rhode Island, and Wadsworth was a native of Massachusetts who moved to South Carolina only shortly after the American Revolution. Both had public careers and served in the South Carolina Legislature, but their political profiles were not particularly high. Neither of them appeared to give any of their legislative colleagues the sense that they were developing strong, countercultural opinions on one of the most ...Continue reading...
Film

Trolls Band Together in Theaters November 17th

0
Nothing's Stronger Than Family Harmony About This holiday season, get ready...
CT

Are State Laws the Solution to Kids’ Access to Porn?

0
As data continues to show the harms of viewing porn, particularly for children, support for stricter legal limits on pornographers has grown.
Film

The Burial: A Glimpse Into the Life of William Gary

0
The Burial: Based on a True Events About Inspired by true...
CT

Pandemic Restrictions Had No Lasting Effect on Churches, Study Finds

0
Even in states where regulations were severe, most congregations moved on quickly. Jeff Schoch was ready to be done with COVID-19 health safety regulations. Like most ministers in the US, the pastor of Crossroads Bible Church in San Jose, California, did his best to comply with the many pandemic rules imposed by state and local governments. But as soon as they were lifted, he wanted to put them all behind him. He quickly tore down the state-mandated signs about social distancing, hand washing, and masks. “I got rid of every visual reminder in the church,” Schoch told CT. “I was anxious, personally, to make that a memory.” Across the country, Protestant congregations are dealing with the long-term impacts of the pandemic. A new, extensive study by Arbor Research Group and ChurchSalary, a ministry of Christianity Today, found that a lot of pastors are still in crisis. Some furloughed staff members haven’t gone back to work. And even when attendance numbers have rebounded, there are still people missing from many congregations. Christian leaders will likely be grappling with the fallout from COVID-19 for years to come. But, surprisingly, state-level pandemic restrictions had no measurable, lasting impact on American churches. Even in places like San Jose—where the county government imposed some of the strictest rules in the country, the restrictions changed frequently, and authorities aggressively went after churches they said failed to comply—pastors like Schoch were able to just move on. The data doesn’t show any adverse effects from the government regulations. Eric Shieh, a research consultant for Arbor Research, said that surprised him. “You would think that the restrictions made things tougher for churches. They didn’t meet as much, and so you’d ...Continue reading...

Topics

CT

They Changed Their Minds about Slavery and Left a Bible Record

0
Two businessmen’s unusual conversion in 1700s South Carolina led them to liberate the people they put in bondage. At first glance, William Turpin and his business partner, Thomas Wadsworth, appeared to be like most other prestigious and powerful white men in late 18th-century South Carolina. They were successful Charleston merchants, had business interests across the state, got involved in state politics, and enslaved numerous human beings. Nothing about them seemed out of the ordinary. But, quietly, these two men changed their minds about slavery. They became committed abolitionists and worked to free dozens of enslaved people across South Carolina. When most wealthy, white Carolinians were increasingly committed to slavery and defending it as a Christian institution, Turpin and Wadsworth were compelled by their convictions to break the shackles they had placed on dozens of men and women. In an era when the Bible was edited so that enslaved people wouldn’t get the idea that God cared about their freedom, Turpin left a secret record of emancipation in a copy of the Scriptures, which is now in the South Carolina State Museum. Perhaps it’s not surprising that this story of faith and freedom is mostly unknown. The two men were, after all, working not to attract attention. Neither had deep roots in Charleston or close familial ties to its storied white “planter” dynasties. Turpin’s family was originally from Rhode Island, and Wadsworth was a native of Massachusetts who moved to South Carolina only shortly after the American Revolution. Both had public careers and served in the South Carolina Legislature, but their political profiles were not particularly high. Neither of them appeared to give any of their legislative colleagues the sense that they were developing strong, countercultural opinions on one of the most ...Continue reading...
Film

Trolls Band Together in Theaters November 17th

0
Nothing's Stronger Than Family Harmony About This holiday season, get ready...
CT

Are State Laws the Solution to Kids’ Access to Porn?

0
As data continues to show the harms of viewing porn, particularly for children, support for stricter legal limits on pornographers has grown.
Film

The Burial: A Glimpse Into the Life of William Gary

0
The Burial: Based on a True Events About Inspired by true...
CT

Pandemic Restrictions Had No Lasting Effect on Churches, Study Finds

0
Even in states where regulations were severe, most congregations moved on quickly. Jeff Schoch was ready to be done with COVID-19 health safety regulations. Like most ministers in the US, the pastor of Crossroads Bible Church in San Jose, California, did his best to comply with the many pandemic rules imposed by state and local governments. But as soon as they were lifted, he wanted to put them all behind him. He quickly tore down the state-mandated signs about social distancing, hand washing, and masks. “I got rid of every visual reminder in the church,” Schoch told CT. “I was anxious, personally, to make that a memory.” Across the country, Protestant congregations are dealing with the long-term impacts of the pandemic. A new, extensive study by Arbor Research Group and ChurchSalary, a ministry of Christianity Today, found that a lot of pastors are still in crisis. Some furloughed staff members haven’t gone back to work. And even when attendance numbers have rebounded, there are still people missing from many congregations. Christian leaders will likely be grappling with the fallout from COVID-19 for years to come. But, surprisingly, state-level pandemic restrictions had no measurable, lasting impact on American churches. Even in places like San Jose—where the county government imposed some of the strictest rules in the country, the restrictions changed frequently, and authorities aggressively went after churches they said failed to comply—pastors like Schoch were able to just move on. The data doesn’t show any adverse effects from the government regulations. Eric Shieh, a research consultant for Arbor Research, said that surprised him. “You would think that the restrictions made things tougher for churches. They didn’t meet as much, and so you’d ...Continue reading...
Film

A Million Miles Away Trailer: Some Dreams Are Closer Than You Think

0
Catch "A Million Miles Away", inspired by the real-life story and grit of NASA flight engineer José Hernández
Film

Shooting Stars Review: Young Lebron James & Friends, Managing the Pressure

0
Shooting Stars, depicting Lebron James and his childhood friends, gives us a glimpse of unity under pressure and bonds that last a lifetime.
Film

Creed III Review and Michael B. Jordan’s Two-Word Sermon for Facing the Past

0
CREED III, ready to rumble on March 3rd. Read our review, including Michael B. Jordan's two-word sermon for viewers facing their past.
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

Team HuddleNewsCTPublisher's DeskGood HealthFilm
spot_imgspot_img
Previous article
#ChristiansAgainstTrump: God has a Bigger Fish to Fry Than Donald Trump
Next article
Bloom Where You’re Planted, It’s Working for Your Growth

Free News - Where voices unite, stories flourish, and community thrives through open dialogue and meaningful connections.

Company

Headlines

They Changed Their Minds about Slavery and Left a Bible Record

0
Two businessmen’s unusual conversion in 1700s South Carolina led them to liberate the people they put in bondage. At first glance, William Turpin and his business partner, Thomas Wadsworth, appeared to be like most other prestigious and powerful white men in late 18th-century South Carolina. They were successful Charleston merchants, had business interests across the state, got involved in state politics, and enslaved numerous human beings. Nothing about them seemed out of the ordinary. But, quietly, these two men changed their minds about slavery. They became committed abolitionists and worked to free dozens of enslaved people across South Carolina. When most wealthy, white Carolinians were increasingly committed to slavery and defending it as a Christian institution, Turpin and Wadsworth were compelled by their convictions to break the shackles they had placed on dozens of men and women. In an era when the Bible was edited so that enslaved people wouldn’t get the idea that God cared about their freedom, Turpin left a secret record of emancipation in a copy of the Scriptures, which is now in the South Carolina State Museum. Perhaps it’s not surprising that this story of faith and freedom is mostly unknown. The two men were, after all, working not to attract attention. Neither had deep roots in Charleston or close familial ties to its storied white “planter” dynasties. Turpin’s family was originally from Rhode Island, and Wadsworth was a native of Massachusetts who moved to South Carolina only shortly after the American Revolution. Both had public careers and served in the South Carolina Legislature, but their political profiles were not particularly high. Neither of them appeared to give any of their legislative colleagues the sense that they were developing strong, countercultural opinions on one of the most ...Continue reading...

Trolls Band Together in Theaters November 17th

0
Nothing's Stronger Than Family Harmony About This holiday season, get ready...

Are State Laws the Solution to Kids’ Access to Porn?

0
As data continues to show the harms of viewing porn, particularly for children, support for stricter legal limits on pornographers has grown.

The Burial: A Glimpse Into the Life of William Gary

0
The Burial: Based on a True Events About Inspired by true...

Newsletter

Get important news delivered directly to your inbox and stay connected!

© Newspaper WordPress Theme by TagDiv

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x