He's With Us!

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son,and they will call him Immanuel"(which means "God with us").Matt. 1:22-23, Is. 7:14

My friend experienced a horrific family tragedy not long ago. Yet miraculously she glows with the grace of God. When I told her this, she simply shrugged and said, "Apart from Me, you can do nothing. So I'm with Him."

Another friend with ongoing family heartbreak told me about a sermon that spoke to her, and said, "There's a miracle coming out of that mess!" That sermon's title? "Emmanuel, God With Us."

Mary of Nazareth, an unwed pregnant teenager. Her betrothed, Joseph was about to divorce her when an angel assured him that this miracle Child would fulfill the prophesy that the virgin's child would be named Immanuel meaning “God would with us.”

Yes, He came to be our Savior, to redeem us.
Yes, He came to set an example.
Yes, He came to give us life, abundant life.

But, He also came simply to be with us.

To be with us in the tragedy, providing grace and peace through the storm.
To be with us in the joy, multiplying it and giving it meaning.
To experience life with us that we might experience life with Him. Glorious!

Are you with Him?
Because He said that if you're not, then you're against Him. Ouch!

So if you don't sense that you are WITH Him - seek Him without delay.
Seek Him with your whole heart.

Repent of anything that would hinder His presence in your life.

He came to be with us.
Anything less is less than best.

From Jesus Calling ~ "When you sit quietly with Me, the process I went through is reversed in your experience. As you identify with Me, heaven's vistas open up before you - granting you glimpses of My Glory."

I pray your CHRISTmas is filled with His presence, the greatest present of all!

"He will be calledWonderful Counselor,Mighty God,Everlasting Father,Prince of Peace....Immanuel."Isaiah 9:6, 7:14